CHARLOTTE — The newly renovated American Legion Memorial Stadium near uptown had its big unveiling on Wednesday.
Mecklenburg County, which owns the stadium, opened the facility for a media tour, marking the end of a nearly two-year construction project that cost $40.5 million. The 9.8-acre site is located on the edge of uptown, next to the main campus of Central Piedmont Community College.
[ PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Renovations at Memorial Stadium nearing completion ]
The stadium features a synthetic turf certified by FIFA, the nonprofit organization governing soccer, that has high-speed drainage and an expanded stormwater management system. In addition to sports, the field can accommodate concerts.
Other upgrades at Memorial Stadium include a state-of-the-art press box, family bathrooms and concession areas. The design allows for food trucks to station themselves at either entrance of the stadium.
It will open to the public on July 7, when the Charlotte Independence soccer club takes on the New York Red Bulls II.
Read more and check out photos from the tour here.
(WATCH: Memorial Stadium project facing millions of dollars in overruns)
This browser does not support the video element.