Charlotte Independence

What Charlotte Independence does

Charlotte Independence is a private, Division III professional men's soccer club founded in 2014 and based in Charlotte, North Carolina, competing in USL League One. The club operates as part of Queen City Soccer Club, the parent organization that also oversees youth soccer programming (camps, recreational leagues, and tournaments) under the Independence Soccer Club brand. The professional team plays home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Sportsplex of Matthews. The club's stated mission is to use sports to make Charlotte a better place to live.

The revenue model combines four primary streams: (1) ticket sales — single-game tickets starting at $7-$20, season tickets, group experiences, mini-plans, and Family 4-packs, sold directly via the club website and the vivenu ticketing platform; (2) broadcasting distribution through ESPN+ streaming and WCCB Charlotte local television; (3) corporate sponsorships including Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and Novant Health; and (4) merchandise sold through a Shopify-based online storefront. Pricing strategy in 2026 skews toward accessibility, with a 5-game mini plan priced from $4 per match.

Distribution and marketing leverage the club website, organic social channels (Instagram, X, Facebook), broadcast partnerships, and the youth soccer program funnel. The club employs 11-50 people and is led on the field by Head Coach Mike Jeffries. As of mid-2026, the team was on an 11-game unbeaten run across all competitions and a club-record seven-game USL League One winning streak, sitting third in the league table. Revenue, ownership structure, and financial performance are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Charlotte Independence

Legal name

Charlotte Independence

Website

https://charlotteindependence.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Charlotte Independence is a Division III professional men's soccer club competing in USL League One since 2014, serving Charlotte-area fans and youth soccer participants as part of the Queen City Soccer Club organization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Men's Soccer Franchise

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Association Football (Soccer) Leagues (MPAKAAAA)

Keywords

• Professional soccer team
• USL League One
• Youth soccer programs
• Matchday tickets
• Team merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Direct sales of single game tickets, season tickets, group tickets, mini-plans, and family packs for home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium and Mecklenburg County Sportsplex
2. Broadcasting Rights: Home games broadcast on ESPN+ and WCCB Charlotte television
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship deals with Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, Novant Health, and other regional businesses
4. Merchandise: Online store sales of team merchandise including kits, apparel, and accessories through Shopify storefront

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Charlotte Independence operates a Division III professional men's soccer team competing in USL League One, founded in 2014 and based in Charlotte, NC. The club sells matchday access through season tickets, single-game tickets, mini-plans, and group experiences at American Legion Memorial Stadium and Mecklenburg County Sportsplex. It also operates youth soccer development programs under the Independence Soccer Club brand and sells team merchandise through an online Shopify storefront.

Product overview

Charlotte Independence is a Division III professional men's soccer organization competing in USL League One. The club operates as a single unified offering centered on its professional soccer team, supplemented by youth soccer programs, ticketing packages (season tickets, group experiences, mini plans), and merchandise sales. The organization plays home games at American Legion Memorial Stadium and Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews, North Carolina. As part of the Queen City Soccer Club, the club also operates youth soccer programming including camps, recreation leagues, and youth tournaments under the Independence Soccer Club brand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Men's Professional Soccer Team Division III professional men's soccer team competing in USL League One, founded in 2014 and based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Provides home-match entertainment at American Legion Memorial Stadium and Mecklenburg County Sportsplex for fans and the local community.
• Youth Soccer Club (Independence Soccer Club) Youth soccer programs under the Independence Soccer Club brand, including camps, recreational leagues, and youth tournaments for young players in the Charlotte area. Designed for parents and youth seeking structured soccer development tied to the professional club.
• Season Tickets Full-season ticket packages for USL League One home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium and Mecklenburg County Sportsplex. Available for the 2026 season and targeted at regular attendees and dedicated fans.
• Group Tickets and Experiences Group ticket packages including matchday experiences, ball kids, birthday parties, bench buddies, pre-game walkouts, and post-match photos for groups, families, and corporate outings attending Charlotte Independence home matches.
• Mini Plans and Flex Plans Partial ticket plans including 5-match mini-plans allowing fans to choose any five Charlotte Independence home matches, with tickets starting at $4 per match and savings up to $125 compared to regular game day pricing.
• Online Merchandise Store Official online merchandise storefront on Shopify selling team kits, apparel, and accessories including the County Kit and Homage Kit. Targets Charlotte Independence fans and supporters nationwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Club-record 7 consecutive league wins in 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBS of NC)coreOthersBCBS of NC is a major sponsor of the Charlotte Independence. The partnership includes the 'Independence Excellence in Leadership Awards presented by BCBS of NC' program, demonstrating the insurer's commitment to community engagement through sports sponsorship.
• Novant HealthcoreOthersNovant Health serves as a health and wellness partner and major sponsor of the club. The partnership includes presenting sponsorships for events like 'Christmas in July' and health-related programming.
• USL League OnecoreOthersThe Charlotte Independence competes in USL League One, which is part of the USL soccer ecosystem including the Gainbridge Super League, USL Championship, USL League Two, USL W League, and USL Academy.
• Queen City Soccer ClubcoreOthersThe Charlotte Independence is part of the Queen City Soccer Club organization. The club's mission is to make Charlotte a better place to live through sports.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• One Knox SC: USL League One member in Knoxville, TN. Comparable mid-tier professional soccer franchise with similar community-driven model and Southeast regional footprint.
• Chattanooga Red Wolves SC: Direct USL League One peer based in the Southeast U.S. Same league, similar market size, comparable community-owned professional soccer structure and ticketing/sponsorship mix.
• Greenville Triumph SC: Direct USL League One rival located in Greenville, SC. Competes in the same league with similar Division III professional soccer operations, regional sponsorship base, and matchday-driven revenue model.
• Corpus Christi FC: USL League One peer in Texas with the same league structure and Division III professional soccer business model. Recently hired Eamon Zayed, a former Jeffries player, illustrating coaching ecosystem overlap.
• AV Alta FC: USL League One club based in Southern California. Same league tier with similar professional soccer operations and ticketing/merchandise revenue model.
• Forward Madison FC: USL League One club with strong community-ownership identity and similar grassroots supporter model. Operates with comparable Division III scale, ticket pricing, and regional sponsorship dependence.
• Athletic Club Boise: USL League One club in Boise, ID. Same Division III league with comparable scope of ticketing, sponsorship, and community programming revenue.

Regional players

• South Carolina United FC: Community-based youth-to-semi-pro soccer club in South Carolina with comparable youth development programming and regional amateur/professional soccer identity.
• North Carolina FC: Professional soccer organization based in Cary, NC, competing in USL League One. Comparable regional competitor with overlapping North Carolina soccer fan base and similar amateur-to-pro pathway.

Broad incumbents

• Charlotte FC: MLS club also based in Charlotte, competing for the same local soccer fan base and regional sponsorships. Higher-tier incumbent that defines the local soccer market against which the Independence is positioned as the affordable, community alternative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Independence
• Facebookfacebook.com/cltindependence
• Instagraminstagram.com/cltindependence?igsh=MXBkZWNkODJsd3JyOA==

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Charlotte Independence