Copa América fans bring big business to Uptown

Excitement can be felt throughout Charlotte thanks to Wednesday's Copa América semifinal between Uruguay and Colombia with tens of thousands of fans flocking to Uptown for the match.

Fans traveled from across the country to see the game, including Jon Borja, who traveled to the Queen City from New Jersey.

"Soccer, in the culture, means everything," Jon Borja said.

Download the WCNC Charlotte app for the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts.

Jeffrey Lopez drove up from Orlando, Florida, to support Colombia in its quest to win the championship.

"It runs through our veins," Lopez said. "It's literally in our culture."

Colombia fans gathered at Cali Colombian Restaurant on South Boulevard before making their way to the stadium. Their support goes beyond the national team, and the culture that's tied with a sport that's rapidly growing in Charlotte.

"It's growing here in the United States," Lopez said. "We want it to continue to grow and then get other states here. More opportunities, more teams."

Fans who spoke to WCNC Charlotte say they most appreciate the connection that goes beyond the pitch.

"We're all from a Latin American community," Borja said. "It's not just one country, but a lot of countries all together, passionate for the same sport. It doesn't matter the colors that you have, we respect every color, and then when it just becomes the nation, the country, we all unite together."

MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/s...