- The Washington Times - Sunday, March 6, 2022

Charlotte FC kicked off its inaugural home opener on Saturday night with a bang.

No, Charlotte didn’t win, falling 1-0 versus LA Galaxy. But its fans — nearly 75,000 strong, breaking Major League Soccer’s attendance record — made the experience unforgettable before the players even took the pitch. 

When the microphone cut out during the national anthem, the 74,479 fans in attendance gave a helping hand, joining in to belt out “The Star-Spangled Banner” in a chilling scene.

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The attendance at Bank of America Stadium exceeded the previous record of 73,019 set by Atlanta United in the 2018 MLS Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

Despite the patriotic start to the match, Charlotte FC lost its home debut to the LA Galaxy, 1-0. Charlotte is now 0-2, with its season opening road loss coming versus DC United in late February. 

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