City, Partners Break Ground on Eastland Sports Campus

Published on March 06, 2026

Eastland-Sports-Complex.jpg

City of Charlotte officials joined development partners and residents to break ground on a $67.1 million amateur sports campus that is expected to be a major economic driver for East Charlotte.

Eastland Sports Campus is expected to open in late 2028. Spanning 29 acres at Eastland Yards, ESC will include six full-size multipurpose athletic fields and a 100,000-square-foot indoor center that will include courts for basketball, volleyball or other sports and amenities.

“Eastland Sports Campus represents an exciting new chapter for the Eastland Yards redevelopment, bringing new amenities, economic activity and vibrant energy to the area,” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said. “This new destination will drive economic impact while serving as a source of pride, not just for East Charlotte, but for our entire city. We are deeply grateful to the city leaders and staff, partners and community members who came together to make this vision a reality.”

According to ESC, the project is expected to generate an annual economic impact of $169 million, create more than 500 jobs and 130,000 hotel rooms annually.

“This reflects months of collaboration and demonstrates what’s possible when public leadership, private partners and the community come together with a shared purpose,” said Robert Bolton, managing partner, Eastland Sports Campus. “Youth sports are booming in Charlotte and across the country. Eastland Sports Campus positions the city to build on that incredible momentum, giving local athletes and families access to first-class facilities while also strengthening Charlotte’s ability to attract regional and national tournaments that fuel economic growth and showcase our community.”

ESC is a partnership with Boston-based EDGE Sports Global, Charlotte Soccer Academy, Bolton, Ivory & Cantey LLC (BIC), and Southern Entertainment. The campus was first proposed in 2023, with City Council approving final funding in September 2024.

Other ESC amenities will include:

  • Health and wellness offices
  • Academic learning center and STEM lab
  • Food and beverage stations
  • Walking and bike paths and expansive green space

Photos from today's groundbreaking ceremony can be found here. 

Eastland Yards

Since officially breaking ground on Eastland Yards in 2022, an 80-acre empty mall site has been transformed into a bustling mixed-use development. Eastland Yards is led by Crosland Southeast in partnership with the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and ESC.

ESC is one of five current projects at the site, including:

  • Evoke Living Eastland Yards: Opening in 2024, this fully occupied 72-unit apartment building offers affordable housing for those 55 or older opened.
  • Solstice at Eastland Yards: This 274-unit mixed-use development has retail on the lower level. The first residents began moving in last month. The city will sublease 16,000-square-feet of ground floor space to small businesses. City Council approved leases for four small businesses at the location in January; those businesses are expected to open this fall.
  • The Central Village @ Eastland Yards: This development will bring 168 townhomes and detached single-family homes to the community.
  • Eastland Park: A 4.5-acre Mecklenburg County park is expected to be completed in spring 2026.

 

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