On Saturday, Feb. 22, in Seattle, Charlotte FC’s 2025 MLS season got underway. Nearly 3,000 miles away in Charlotte, fans of the team packed a two-story brewery located just a half-mile south of Bank of America Stadium.
A DJ booth complete with lights and a fog machine sat at the front of a room under a 92-foot TV wall displaying live MLS action. Vendors encircled the room offering merch, food, face-painting and a giant photo booth.
Members of Carolina Hooliganz and Mint City Collective, two fan groups that make up Charlotte FC’s Supporters Council, were on hand to lead a soccer-crazed crowd in chants that bounced around the room reminiscent of the in-stadium atmosphere.
Welcome to The Warehouse at HopFly.
In one corner of the room, a local tattoo artist was busy placing fresh, permanent ink onto the arms and legs of giddy, enlivened fans. The music was loud, the drinks were flowing, the energy was high … and kickoff was still more than three hours away. They do tailgating right in soccer circles.
HopFly Brewing Company on South Mint Street has been a popular pre- and post-game spot for Charlotte FC’s fanbase since it opened in 2022, the same year the club played its inaugural match.
Cameron Schulz, owner and operator of HopFly, says the brewery’s relationship with fans grew naturally.
“Working with the supporters was a no-brainer with our proximity (to the stadium),” says Schulz. “We naturally became a gathering spot before home matches. People need a place to pregame. We’re going to do everything we can to make that the best possible experience, and that’s just grown really organically into forging better relationships with the supporters groups and finding ways to get more involved for away matches.”
The team at HopFly has leaned into that relationship, creating special release beer collaborations with popular Crown players like Brandt Bronico and captain Ashley Westwood. Schultz says Westwood still stops in from time-to-time and is “blown away” by the support.
“People care, and that’s what it’s about for us,” says Schulz. “Our only role here is to foster community and provide the blank space for people to come in and make it awesome.”
On Opening Night, Charlotte FC super fan La Muerte — famous for his skull mask, sombrero, and mariachi-costumed look — was the latest to be honored with a special release beer. Extra Time, a Mexican-style lager, was the drink of choice for many in attendance. (In the interest of solid reporting, I had one or several to confirm that the hype was real. I’ll be back for another soon.)
La Muerte himself was in the crowd donning his well-known gear, taking pictures and serving as the de facto mascot for the proceedings.
Schulz has more plans in the works for future matchdays. Touting their tailgate experience as “the heart of game-day celebrations,” CLTFC flags and jerseys can be found hanging all around the HopFly taproom.
Last Saturday’s Season Kickoff Party saw a couple hundred fans spending several hours together, unfazed by the 10:30 p.m. start time for the West Coast match, happily dancing and singing along to a playlist that culminated with “Pepas,” the Spanish-language EDM song that plays inside of Bank of America Stadium at the beginning of home matches.
“It’s definitely growing,” Schulz said of gameday festivities. “We want to be a central pillar of the supporters groups and of this community and that means going above and beyond to try to make our amenities as great as they can be. At the end of the day, we just want to host a great party.”
There were even signs of the club’s on-pitch growth visible in The Warehouse Saturday night for those who could recognize them. The Southern Champions Belt — won as part of a season-long competition between Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville, and Washington DC — was proudly shown off around the room by its newest owners, the members of Mint City Collective.
A flag celebrating Charlotte’s biggest offseason transfer Wilfried Zaha hung on the wall behind the Mint City Soccer Show podcast table. Another flag gave a nod to USMNT veteran Tim Ream’s addition to the squad. Still, there was plenty of love for the long-haulers, with a few Patrick Agyemang jerseys seen throughout the Warehouse.
All told, the night was a true celebration of soccer’s growing imprint on the Queen City. Throw in the view of the stadium and Uptown skyline from HopFly’s patios, not to mention the number of large commercial brewing tanks stationed around the Warehouse, and you’ve got a uniquely Charlotte backdrop for a Charlotte FC watch party.
The game itself, which ended in a 2-2 draw, was a reminder that it’s a long season in MLS and this team isn’t at the level of its lofty expectations quite yet. The club returns to action on Saturday, March 1, for a 2 p.m. match against rival Atlanta United FC.
That match will take place on the home turf of The Fortress, and if Saturday night was any indication, fans will already be in mid-season form.
Read more: Getting to Know Charlotte FC Head Coach Dean Smith (2024)
Schultz says the team at HopFly is excited to open their doors at 10 a.m. on Saturday to provide a “high-energy place for people to come and get ready” for the match, but added that they’re most looking forward to “hosting a postgame victory celebration after we beat Atlanta.”
