Local

Charlotte’s new soccer team becomes first franchise to sell PSLs

(MELISSA KEY/CBJ)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As anticipation builds for the Charlotte Football Club’s inaugural season, the team has announced season ticket prices and started the seat selection process for members.

There’s just one catch: as Charlotte FC is set to become Major League Soccer’s 28th club in 2022, it is the first franchise to sell personal seat licenses (PSLs), according to a report from Sportico.com.

A seat license is a one-time purchase that provides the exclusive right to a specific seat(s) for matches played at Bank of America Stadium.

According to the team’s website, seat licenses are required when securing season tickets in all areas except the Supporters Section, where seating will be general admission.

In addition to the Supporters Section, there are two other tiers of ticketing: “General Seating,” in the lower level throughout the 100 and 200 level sections; and “Premium Seating,” which is the top 21 rows in the lower level stretching corner to corner on each sideline.

Seat selection in underway now for Premium Seating. PSL prices for Premium Seating costs $550 per seat. Season tickets in this tier cost $2,250 and $1,620 per seat.

Seat selection for General Seating begins March 15. PSL prices for General Seating range from $350 to $900 per seat. The cost for season tickets in General Seating range $630 to $1,980 per seat.

Season tickets in the Supporters Section are currently on sale for $486 per seat. A PSL is not required for season tickets in this section.

Click here to see a seating map and price chart.

Some of the perks listed for all inaugural season ticket members include interest-free payment plans and purchase priority for other stadium events, including international soccer matches and concerts.

Club president Nick Kelly told Sportico that “all of the data points and all of the research” indicated there would be little to no resistance to PSLs from fans.

Although the club declined to provide specific sales figures, Kelly said, “Thus far, we’ve been extremely pleased with the reception. [The PSLs] haven’t slowed us down in terms of season ticket conversions from deposits.”

In September, Tom Glick, president of Tepper Sports and Entertainment, told the MLS the club had received more than 30,000 season ticket deposits.

Several fans expressed their disappointment to the announcement on the club’s Facebook page.

“Most expensive seats in the league and the only team with PSLs, going to price out a lot of people with this!” one commenter wrote. Another commented, “I would 100% have bought season tickets for my family and I but on principal will have to decline. I will not buy into the racket of PSLs. They have no place in this sport or this league.”

For more information on Charlotte FC tickets, click here.

0