Daniel Pierce
·4 min read
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Charlotte city leaders are expected to vote next Monday on whether to approve the funding of $650 million for renovation projects at Bank of America Stadium.
Council members called for a special public hearing on June 17 on the matter, after some of them questioned the transparency of the overall discussion with Tepper Sports and Entertainment.
Last week it was revealed that more than 450 people left comments on an online survey regarding the proposed renovations totaling $1.3 billion. Among the respondents, approximately 60 percent were againstthe deal.
These projects include bringing the stadium into the new age of pro sports facilities. The public money would come from hospitality tax revenue, which are funds that have already been set aside.
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It can only be spent on specific projects which involve tourism, which also includes sports stadiums.
The money would also be dealt out directly to contractors.
In exchange, owner David Tepper will keep both the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC in Charlotte for 20 years, with the option to buy out of the contract after 15 years.
The online page showed that more than 60 percent of those who commented on the stadium were not in favor of it, or not fully in favor of the city’s funding of it.
Monday, the turnout remained mixed, however, a majority voiced their support for the renovations. 33 individuals signed up to speak, but 10 did not show up.
Out of 23 people who spoke, 15 people supported the move, six opposed it, while a handful said they were in support with caveats.
Some of those in support also included individuals with direct partnerships with the teams, or Tepper Sports and Entertainment, and Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad.
Small business owner Toni Shawney explained how the stadium’s recent events have helped revitalize her business. She said she opened near BofAjust before COVID.
Her business, like many others, struggled during this time as uptown offices and sports venues were empty for long periods.
“Providing a huge financial stimulus for local hotels, restaurants, brewers and shops,” she said.
Others in support explained how the stadium and what it offers is a selling point used to attract other businesses to set up shop in the Queen City.
On the opposite side, there is still concern over transparency and the idea of using city dollars to help an NFL owner worth $20 billion who has yet to produce a good and consistent product on the field.
Individuals criticized the city’s decision to host a public hearing during work hours, preventing more “middle-class” individuals from speaking their minds.
They also called for a full breakdown of the construction cost and asked to see the full study done to support renovation projects.
“Own aportion of the stadium or stake in the teams,” explained Thomas Templeton.“Start acting like a business investor who’s coming to the table with $650 million to invest. That, ladies and gentlemen, is power.”
“Tepper wants free money without sacrificing anything,” he continued. “Don’t just hand it to him. I don’t think he’s looking for a partner, he’s looking for patsy.”
There is also fear the city could end up with a dead deal if the Tepper organization decides to pull out.
Caught in the middle, however, are people who believe the stadium is the best shot at a thriving Charlotte, but want more to be done to help surrounding areas thrive along with it.
Business owner Kristian Pederson gave an example of how he and other businesses off of Brevard Court have had to spend their own money and time to fix the access points of their business, such as the roads and walkways leading up to their doors.
He asked city leaders that they, “think of the infrastructure surrounding the stadium … everything around [Bank of America Stadium] also matters, too. And it matters a lot.We live off the stadium at the end of the day.”
A vote will happen on June 24.
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