Article: Tecos, Atlas showdown; Organizers hope elite teams from Mexico will draw Latino fans

The Latino population boom trend continues in the South, with this article focusing on North Carolina and boasting some impressive stats:

"Gomez said Tennessee has the fourth-fastest growing Latino community in the nation, and that North Carolina has the fastest.

U.S. Census numbers showed 6,693 Latinos in Mecklenburg County in 1990, and the number jumped to 44,871 in 2000.

Census American Fact Finder reported another jump in population in 2003, to 59,565."

According to the following piece from today's Charlotte Observer, smart marketing minds are attempting to translate these attractive numbers into dollars by inviting major Mexican soccer teams to match up for the enjoyment of North Carolina Mexican residents nostalgic for their favorite teams.

Tecos, Atlas showdown
Organizers hope elite teams from Mexico will draw Latino fans

BRETT HONEYCUTT
Staff Writer

La Noticia, Charlotte's largest Spanish newspaper, has been advertising a matchup between two first-division soccer teams from Mexico for two months.

Azul Deportes, an Hispanic company from Louisville that promotes sports and entertainment, has put a lot of money into promoting the game, which will be played 7 p.m. today at Bank of America Stadium.

The company hopes the game appeals to one of the fastest growing Latino communities in the nation, with expectations of drawing 15,000 to 20,000 fans.

"The response has been very positive in all the promotions," said Marcela Gomez of Hispanic Marketing.

"What we hope for and expect is that (the) response will turn into ticket sales."

The teams played in Nashville on Friday, but The Tennessean reported an estimated crowd of a few thousand. No official attendance was given.

The Charlotte area might be different.

Gomez said Tennessee has the fourth-fastest growing Latino community in the nation, and that North Carolina has the fastest.

U.S. Census numbers showed 6,693 Latinos in Mecklenburg County in 1990, and the number jumped to 44,871 in 2000.

Census American Fact Finder reported another jump in population in 2003, to 59,565.

Charlotte.com               READ MORE