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Dan DiMicco’s increased investment in the Charlotte Independence is an infusion, not a takeover.

For managing partner Jim McPhilliamy, he and his family have “sunk every dime in” the franchise they possibly could. While McPhilliamy remains the organization’s managing partner and front man, it was time for a financial upgrade.

“He doesn’t invest to lose money,” McPhilliamy said of DiMicco, the retired CEO of Nucor and a trade advisor on President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.

DiMicco joined the investor group last year and attended multiple games, McPhilliamy said. He decided to take a bigger financial role, based on what McPhilliamy described as DiMicco’s passion for the team, and interest in the direction the USL is heading.

“I’m still managing partner,” McPhilliamy said. “I still will run everything day-to-day. Dan’s investment is in support of what we already have going. He likes the current infrastructure.”

McPhilliamy has controlled daily operations since the Independence’s inception in 2014. After three seasons at multiple locations (most of them owned by Mecklenburg County), the goal remains American Legion Memorial Stadium. That site remains elusive as it is not wide enough for a USL pitch, nor can the county agree on how to refurbish the stadium. However, Commissioner Jim Puckett said the new ownership makes a potential upgrade with the Jacks as primary tenant particularly appealing.

“One of the things I liked most about the second deal with the Independence was that during 2017 they had recruited additional ownership, which helped to put the financial piece on more solid ground,” Puckett said. “I know the new owner needed to have a pretty solid understanding of where the team would play. He was interested if they could make a deal with Memorial. He was not interested really if they stayed at Matthews, because they can’t generate a profit at Matthews.”

Said McPhilliamy: “[DiMicco] certainly helps us in our discussions with the county as we try to prove that our investor group has the wherewithal to make a long term investment in Memorial Stadium.”

Mecklenburg commissioners voted 6-2 on Dec. 19 to pursue County Manager Dena Diorio’s recommendation to self-finance the refurbishment of the stadium for $31.75 million. However, that vote included seeking additional partners, such as the city or the Independence. Members of the county’s Intergovernmental Relations Committee, such as Puckett, and the city’s Economic Development Committee intend to meet in February to discuss partnering on a project that would include Memorial, as well as an amateur sports complex at the current Grady Cole Center site.

“The majority of the county commissioners voted to have the county manager start the process of renovating Memorial Stadium for $32 million, and as far as I know, we have started down that path,” Puckett said. “The only thing that may change is we may be able to sign a lease with a soccer team to lease it, but that isn’t a given, because we didn’t make the renovations contingent on having that contract. We might have the city of Charlotte decide that they want to make that a priority for their spending so that we have to spend less. Even if there isn’t a soccer team to use the stadium, and even if there isn’t a willingness on the city’s part, the majority of the board voted to renovate the stadium, such so that you could play soccer there.”

Renovations would need to start by April to meet the Independence’s deadline, according to Puckett. The club will play their 2018 season at the Sportsplex at Matthews. They open against Ottawa F.C. at the Sportsplex on March 17.

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