It has not been a good two weeks for Charlotte FC. Wednesday at Orlando: 4-1. Saturday at Nashville: 4-2. Two long road trips. Two multi-goal losses.
The full recap of Saturday's 2-4 loss at Nashville is over at The Charlotte Mercury, and Jack Beckett does the box-score work better than I would. The short version for those of us who care more about whether to plan around the next home match than about Sam Surridge's MLS goal-leader status: Charlotte FC sits fifth in the Eastern Conference now, the road has not been kind, and the home schedule is about to start helping.
May 9 is the next home match. FC Cincinnati at Bank of America Stadium, 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday — the friendliest matchday for households driving in from south Charlotte. May 13 is the next one after that: New York City FC at 7 p.m. on a Wednesday, which is a harder ask. May 16 is Toronto FC, Saturday again. May 23 is New England, Saturday.
Last January, when Strolling Ballantyne first wrote about the Wilfried Zaha loan, the framing was "bold gamble." The loan ends June 30. The home schedule starting May 9 is part of how much of it Charlotte fans get to enjoy.
If you have been waiting for a stretch where Charlotte FC plays at home and the calendar cooperates, this is it. I am circling May 9.