Charlotte in the early 1980s was not the city it is today. It was a quaint Southern town, closer to Mayberry than Manhattan. There was no real nightlife, and people would drive home at night after work. Back then, being the biggest city in both Carolinas did not mean much.
A professor of psychology at UNCC described Charlotte as an “adolescent city, trying to be bigger than it is.” The city’s leadership aspired for something bigger and formed the Charlotte Sports Action Council to build awareness and opportunities.
The council included figures like Humpy Wheeler from Charlotte Motor Speedway and Bob Benson, who had experience with basketball and soccer leagues. Charlotte had taken some hits in sports with events like the Kemper Open moving away and teams relocating or folding.
In 1979, Atlanta’s NASL team played a preseason match in Charlotte, leading to an event called Charlotte Soccer ’79. Despite poor weather affecting attendance, key figures attended this game. Phil Woosnam of NASL discussed potential expansion with Benson.
Benson applied for an ASL franchise in late 1979, leading to the creation of Carolina Lightnin’. The team saw success quickly under coach Rodney Marsh, winning a national professional championship in its first season.
The team’s popularity influenced future developments in Charlotte’s sports scene. George Shinn credited Benson’s success with inspiring him to bring the NBA’s Hornets to Charlotte. This paved the way for Jerry Richardson bringing the NFL’s Panthers to the city.
Bob Benson passed away before seeing Charlotte FC play but left a lasting legacy on the city’s sports culture. The debut of Charlotte FC’s new third kit marked another chapter in this history.
