Eight names, one MLS team in Charlotte

(Photo: Johnny Wakefield)

by Johnny Wakefield and eight Collective writers

This week, an organization named "DT Soccer" based out of Bank of America Stadium trademarked eight names for a potential soccer team in Charlotte. With rumors of a fan vote to pick the name of the MLS team (once the team is announced of course), there's very little doubt as to what those eight names were trademarked for.

This is the list: Charlotte FC, Charlotte Athletic FC, Charlotte Crown FC, Charlotte Fortune FC, Charlotte Monarchs FC, Charlotte Town FC, Carolina Gliders FC, and All Carolina FC. 

Looking briefly at the eight, it's clear we have two that go for the "One Carolina" theme (to varying degrees of success), two that play off the Queen City vibe, two that remind fans of teams in the English Football League, one that's strictly cash money, and another that's as simple and clean as a name can be. 

Several have received scorn online (as literally everything tends to receive in 2019), but in our Mint City Chronicle Twitter poll, Charlotte FC and Charlotte Athletic FC are neck and neck for the lead as of 850 votes cast. 

We asked the good people of the Mint City Collective Members Slack to make arguments for all eight names, and their arguments are found below. Some were harder to defend than others, so bravo to all eight writers for making their case. Read the arguments and keep an open mind... we'll ask your opinion in the conclusion below.


Charlotte FC, by Josh Klein
While my original hope of "Dragonz" was dashed by the lack of copyright (or maybe someone already had it copywritten?), the next best case from those remaining is easily Charlotte FC. Clean. Simple. A club that Charlotte can call its own - the biggest city in North Carolina can't do that with other professional franchises. The Panthers belong to Carolina. The Hornets once belonged to New Orleans - or were once the Bobcats, depending on which historical timeline you pull from. The Charlotte Rage has gone the way of the dodo and even the Knights once played in Fort Mill. But Charlotte FC is ours. A football club for us. For all the dragonz.

Charlotte Athletic FC, by Todd Tinsley
Playing off teams like Sunderland AFC, AFC Bournemouth, and AFC Wimbledon while simultaneously leaning on the famous Spanish side Atlético Madrid, "Charlotte Athletic FC" would carry the AFC into battle. A cousin to the FC moniker, AFC attached to the end of our city's name shows an international flair without appearing too bandwagon or pretentious. Charlotte AFC carries the wealth and history of Charlotte itself along with the AFC, initials that show a penchant for unique, blue collar expansion into a crowded MLS field.

Charlotte Crown FC, by Tyler Goodwell
It’s simple, powerful, and recalls more than just our royal namesake, Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The Crown is something we wrestled away from King George III and claimed for our own in The Mecklenburg Resolves on May 20, 1775. “Crown” is also an old shorthand for a coin issued by a royal mint, and we are Mint City, are we not? Crown FC is thoroughly Charlotte. What better name for our grand new team?

Charlotte Fortune FC, by Trey Eskridge
Fortune FC comes forth from a multitude of historic reasons. Charlotte made coins in its U.S. Mint as far back as the 1800s. We had the first gold rush in the United States. Banks have always been a thing here too: While most states in the early 1900s limited banks to operating a single branch, North Carolina became one of the first states to grant banks the ability to have multiple branches, helping farmers gain the funding they needed to grow cash crops like tobacco. Banks are in our blood. North Carolina National Bank grew alongside the likes of Wachovia, BB&T, and First Union of Charlotte and Asheville. Reagan opened floodgates on interstate banking through deregulation in 1985, and many of these strong regional banks bought out smaller banks across the U.S. to create the large behemoths that we have as the foundation of our city today. Banks and pursuing fortune have long been the cornerstones of Charlotte. 

Charlotte Monarchs FC, by Russell Varner
The "Monarchs FC" name is the perfect combination of uniqueness and honoring the city. It helps represent the city’s Queen City nickname (which does NOT belong to you, Cincinnati - someone tell MLS and Porkopolis that) and would stand alone in MLS apart from all the City Name FCs, FC City Names, and City Name United’s. Under this name and a likely crown, similar to one seen on every street sign in Charlotte, the Monarchs will unite as one. 

Charlotte Town FC, by Jay Landskroener
From a quick search of Charlotte history, you may realize that in 1768, the now-city of Charlotte was incorporated as "Charlotte Town." Currently, Charlotte serves as a rapidly growing city that, thanks to its smallish Uptown (geographically) and southern charm, still often feels like a small town. Drive just a few short minutes from the intersection of Trade and Tryon and you're already in wooded neighborhoods. Charlottetowne Avenue runs through CPCC and right by Memorial Stadium in the Elizabeth neighborhood, and numerous other neighborhoods have Charlotte Town or Charlottetowne street names too. This name is a nod to local history, like other sports teams in the area, and would still be a unique name within the sporting landscape of soccer in this country. And, let's be honest, oxymoronic and ironic names are incredible, so calling the soccer team in the major city of Charlotte, North Carolina "Town FC" would perfectly suit the trend-focused young adults that now make this city home.

Carolina Gliders FC, by Corey Inscoe
The "Carolina Gliders." I know, I know – I laughed when I first heard it, too. But someone had to defend it for this story and I like a challenge, so defend it I will. Few North Carolina symbols are as iconic as the powered glider that Wilbur and Orville Wright launched in Kitty Hawk in 1903, the one that proved that humans could fly. That glider is immortalized on (most of) our license plates, along with the words “First in Flight.” It's so iconic that it's also the name of our Major League Triathlon team ... hmm ... Well, anyway, it gives us one more way to troll Ohioans. ”Birthplace of Aviation.” Pfft. Yeah, OK. Gliders forever.

All Carolina FC, by Chris Ashley
There is some wisdom in using the name of your team to cast the largest-possible net in an effort to establish a Carolina-wide fanbase. We all know that Tepper's throwball team is all about #OneCarolina, so the synergy here makes all the sense in the world. While I would personally prefer "One Carolina FC" or "1 Carolina SC" to "All Carolina FC," the South Carolinian in me still loves the idea of feeling as much a part of this team as my counterparts in N.C. This team is for all of us: All Carolina FC.

Eight names. Eight arguments. I personally lean towards Jay's and Charlotte Town FC, but I'd be happy with approximately four of the options. What about you? Let us know in the Members Slack or on one of our many Chronicle social media options: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram all work.

No matter what name the team eventually chooses, some people will absolutely love it and others will be upset. (Would I get a Carolina Gliders crest tattooed on my neck? No, probably not. Corey might.) But in the end, all of us at the Mint City Collective will gather to support the team on the field; we're just eager to see what name, colors, and crest they'll be sporting when they kick the ball together at Bank of America Stadium for the very first time.