Charlotte Soccer Academy
Overview
Charlotte Soccer Academy (CSA) is the premier ECNL club in the Charlotte metro area, operating as a full-service youth soccer organization from recreational through elite national-level competition. The club is headquartered at the OrthoCarolina Sportsplex in Pineville, NC (13333 Dorman Road, Pineville, NC 28134). CSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt since June 1995, under EIN 56-1887771.
CSA operates seven geographic sections: CSA-Charlotte, CSA-Matthews/Mint Hill, CSA-North, CSA-Huntersville, CSA-Uptown, CSA-Palisades, and CSA-York County/Palmetto. This multi-section model provides broad geographic coverage across the Charlotte metro.
Financials
| Metric | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $11,144,465 | $9,310,126 | $8,684,226 | $7,037,227 | $6,629,904 |
| Expenses | $9,861,682 | $8,763,970 | $7,604,735 | $6,524,629 | $6,436,150 |
| Net Income | $1,282,783 | $546,156 | $1,079,491 | $512,598 | $193,754 |
| Total Assets | $14,917,030 | $11,631,594 | $10,553,353 | $9,129,591 | $6,436,281 |
Revenue has grown 68% from FY2020 to FY2024 ($6.6M to $11.1M). Consistently profitable with strong asset base. Confidence: (HIGH) — 990 filing data.
Teams & Players
- Estimated 8,000+ players across all sections and levels
- Recreational through ECNL National programs
- Pre-ECNL programming for 9U-12U elite players
- ECNL National for 13U-19U
League Affiliations
- ecnl — Girls and Boys (full national membership, Charlotte’s ECNL franchise)
- ECNL Regional League — North and South regions
- NCYSA Classic / Challenge
- US Club Soccer
Facilities
- orthocarolina-sportsplex — Pineville, NC. 6 fields (5 turf, 1 FIFA 2-certified). 20,000 sq ft building with offices, club store, PT space.
- sportsplex-at-matthews — Matthews, NC. Additional fields for training and competition.
- Additional section-based training sites across Charlotte metro
Leadership
- brad-wylde — President & Executive Director
- jim-cantalupo — Board President
- Board of Directors includes: VP Bill Laurie, Treasurer John Bretz, Secretary Jimmy O’Boyle
College Placement
Strong college placement through ECNL exposure and CSA-hosted showcases/tournaments.
Competitive Position
CSA is the ECNL franchise holder in Charlotte — the most important competitive asset in the Charlotte market. The seven-section model provides unmatched geographic coverage.
Strengths:
- ECNL membership (both boys and girls) — the key franchise
- Seven-section geographic model covering all of Charlotte metro
- Strong financials ($11.1M revenue, $14.9M assets, consistently profitable)
- Purpose-built facility (OrthoCarolina Sportsplex with FIFA-certified turf)
- Long history (tax-exempt since 1995)
Weaknesses:
- No MLS Next pathway (lost DA/MLS Next to charlotte-independence-sc)
- Multi-section model may create internal complexity
- Competes with 3+ other clubs for elite Charlotte talent
- Interesting relationship with queen-city-mutiny (CSA appears on QCM site as Pre-MLS feeder)
Investment Thesis
CSA is a Tier 1 acquisition target. The ECNL franchise is the crown jewel — whoever controls ECNL in Charlotte controls the elite girls’ pathway and a major boys’ pathway. Combined with charlotte-independence-sc ($10.7M MLS Next), a Charlotte consolidation play could create a $21M+ platform. Strong asset base ($14.9M) suggests significant real property or reserves.
Open Questions
- What is the nature of the CSA-queen-city-mutiny Pre-MLS Academy relationship?
- Does CSA own or lease the OrthoCarolina Sportsplex? What are the terms?
- What is Brad Wylde’s appetite for M&A or partnership?
- How do the seven sections operate financially — shared P&L or independent?