MLS · Charlotte · Rating: 6 / 9 · Mixed
Owner: David Tepper (Tepper Sports & Entertainment)
Alignment: Charlotte FC is owned by hedge-fund billionaire David Tepper, who also owns the Carolina Panthers. Tepper political giving has been split between parties and large institutional donors, with reporting from OpenSecrets showing NFL ownership giving heavily weighted to Republicans. The Charlotte market is competitive politically and the franchise has not adopted aggressive partisan public stances either way.
Summary
Charlotte FC is owned by hedge-fund billionaire David Tepper, who also owns the Carolina Panthers. Tepper political giving has been split between parties and large institutional donors, with reporting from OpenSecrets showing NFL ownership giving heavily weighted to Republicans. The Charlotte market is competitive politically and the franchise has not adopted aggressive partisan public stances either way.
Claims & Sources
Claim 1: OpenSecrets investigation of NFL owner political spending profiles Tepper among the owners who give to both parties
Sources: OpenSecrets — Blitzing Washington: How the NFL and team owners spend millions
Claim 2: The Guardian database of US sports owners political donations details Tepper giving across NFL and MLS
Sources: The Guardian — US sports owners political donations database