The Charlotte Aviators temporarily joined the East Division as an MLQ Trial Expansion Team for the 2021 and 2022 seasons and became an official MLQ franchise in 2023, thanks in large part by the efforts of head coach Lee Hodge and manager Hanna Reese. Formerly the Charlotte Royals, the team was founded in 2020 by Ryan Davis and Reese with the intent to compete for a bid to join MLQ.