Charlotte Independence announced as new USL Pro Team

In rather exciting news regarding soccer in the Queen City, as the new ownership group of the Charlotte USL Pro team announced a complete re-brand of the franchise.

Gone are the Charlotte Eagles, in its place stands Independence…well, the Charlotte Independence, to be precise.

More from North Carolina Sports

• NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
• UNC Football gets Commitment from Top Cornerback
• Webb Simpson wins RBC Heritage Open on Father’s Day
• Four North Carolina players selected in first round of MLB Draft
• UNC Destroyed by Coach Duggs and Tennessee in NCAA Football 14

The announcement was held by Queen City Soccer Club Inc., which is led by Charlotte Hounds President Jim McPhilliamy, on Wednesday afternoon.

This comes along with  launch of a new website and multiple social media accounts that began popping up across cyberspace.

https://twitter.com/CLTIndependence/status/512356576712069123

The Eagles will not be entirely going away, however, as they will move down to the Premier Development League.

“USL is doubly delighted to welcome the Charlotte Independence into USL PRO and the Charlotte Eagles into the PDL,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said in a statement.

“These developments, along with Orlando City moving up to MLS and the Austin Aztex moving up from the PDL to USL PRO, demonstrate precisely the type of structure underneath MLS that will create a solid foundation for the future of American soccer.”

The rights to the franchise were bought by McPhilliamy and his group, and the deal ends the over 20-year run of the Eagles being the exclusive professional soccer team in Charlotte.

As for location, the team will play in Memorial Stadium, the same venue used by the Hounds.

The Independence will be considered the sixth expansion team of the USL Pro this offseason, along with teams in St. Louis, Tulsa, Louisville, Colorado Springs and Austin.

The team is also holding a fan vote to choose the new official logo. Voters will have 12 (yes, 12) potential logos to choose from according to the website.

https://twitter.com/BrianStraus/status/512387102798278656

SOURCE: Charlotte Independence