NFL
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Carolina Panthers




1996
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They really need some new video screens in that stadium, those might be the smallest in the NFL

Sercan, what's your point in all these pointless threads on stadia in the US? Couldn't you have combined them in one thread??

Why?
Thsoe are big stadiums
Just combine them because they are from the same country?
Is there a combined thread about all skyscrapers of the USA?

Why?
Thsoe are big stadiums
Just combine them because they are from the same country?
Is there a combined thread about all skyscrapers of the USA?

What do you want with all your threads? You don't have anything to tell us about those stadiums, and what do you want us to tell them? Most people will just say 'wow, that's a cool stadium' or 'why doesn't that stadium have a roof?', that's it.

If you wanna make a thread about every 60k stadium in the world, I'd say do it somewhere else.

Our american users gave many good informations.
Just look at the Invesco field thread.
And as i know it's not just about proposed or u/c stadiums

If it matters, a big thread was tried in the past. It failed because there were too many simultaneous conversations to maintain a coherent thread. I think separate threads works much better.

Now if there's too many for people's tastes, I don't mind suggesting a separate sub-forums by sports.

I also think seperate threads work better.
And very good job Sercan on creating them all, although I'd like to see some more european and south american football stadiums :D

I also think seperate threads work better.
And very good job Sercan on creating them all, although I'd like to see some more european and south american football stadiums :D

post whatever stadiums you want. The US cannot help it if there are a ton of big stadiums, and a ton of new or recently renovated or expanded stadium. Obviously Joop is just noob. The roof argument was gone long ago. You seem to be still of the belief that roofs entail some status.

post whatever stadiums you want. The US cannot help it if there are a ton of big stadiums, and a ton of new or recently renovated or expanded stadium. Obviously Joop is just noob. The roof argument was gone long ago. You seem to be still of the belief that roofs entail some status.

You might try reading my post first :) I know all about the roof discussion by now, I just gave it as an example of the reaction that most people will give on these stadium threads, considering most people outside the US value a roof on a stadium pretty high. I know there are a ton of big stadiums in the US, but the same can be said for all other continents.

Most of these threads will die soon anyways, but I too suggest creating a subforum for individual stadium presentations, if you're so eager to do so.

As I said, keep posting sercan.

I also think seperate threads work better.
And very good job Sercan on creating them all, although I'd like to see some more european and south american football stadiums :D

I Agree. The same type of stadium can get boring after a while. Variety is the spice of life as they say.

1996

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This stadium I like even more than the Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville. It is nice to see full bowl designs as NFL stadiums. And an evening match under floodlights always bring this extra thing in stadium atmosphere in my opinion.

It could have third tier though and make it a 100.000+ venue. And maybe a roof? I do not know if the stadium is always sold out. But enlarged with a roof it would be one of the very best in US to me.

Thanks Sercan for digging up all these pictures. BTW, this one I did not visit before, I just drove by it once. Nice to see the interior with these pictures.

Sercan, what's your point in all these pointless threads on stadia in the US? Couldn't you have combined them in one thread??

I also wondered about that. While it's nice to see a few, I think the others are redundant. And it's not like I ever intend to go see any of them. I'm not even an NFL fan at all.

But I'll take them any day over the Nascar tracks which I think are an abomination and an affront to the environment. Those should be outlawed.

I dont like the architecture of this stadium but i love its location with the Skyline behind it.

This stadium I like even more than the Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville. It is nice to see full bowl designs as NFL stadiums. And an evening match under floodlights always bring this extra thing in stadium atmosphere in my opinion.

It could have third tier though and make it a 100.000+ venue. And maybe a roof? I do not know if the stadium is always sold out. But enlarged with a roof it would be one of the very best in US to me.

Thanks Sercan for digging up all these pictures. BTW, this one I did not visit before, I just drove by it once. Nice to see the interior with these pictures.

:ohno:

It doesnt need a roof! No rain=no roof!

Roof 'em! ;)

Roof'em all. Ha Ha Ha Ha.

I like this part most in the facades.

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It could have third tier though and make it a 100.000+ venue. And maybe a roof? I do not know if the stadium is always sold out. But enlarged with a roof it would be one of the very best in US to me.


73,000 is just about right for Charlotte, since its a smaller city compared to New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington. The NFL has strict blackout rules, stadiums must sell a certain percentage of available seats or the game is not televised locally. Teams typically build between 60-80,000 seat stadiums, most teams can sell that many tickets, the Washington Redskins are a notable exception, since they have over 90,000 seats, even so they still have a season ticket waiting list that is a mile long and every game sells out. College teams dont have to worry about these blackout rules, so they just build as big as they can. NFL stadiums may be a little bit small, while college stadiums a bit large.

An interesting thing about Bank of America Stadium is that its one of very few NFL stadiums that was built without using taxpayer money.

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What do you want with all your threads? You don't have anything to tell us about those stadiums, and what do you want us to tell them? Most people will just say 'wow, that's a cool stadium' or 'why doesn't that stadium have a roof?', that's it.

As sercan said, they get yanks to tell us about these stadiums that I wouldn't know. Plus, sercan gets pics I can't.

If you wanna make a thread about every 60k stadium in the world, I'd say do it somewhere else.

So let me get this straight, in the stadiums section, you're complaining about sercan posting pictures of.... stadiums? Where else would he post them?

And I'd be quite happy for sercan to post a thread about every 60k+ stadium in the world, since they tend to be big (metaphorically and literally) and important. And there's not that many of them anyway, only about 100 or so (I think, a guess).

I also wondered about that. While it's nice to see a few, I think the others are redundant. And it's not like I ever intend to go see any of them. I'm not even an NFL fan at all.

I know rover is banned but I'll speak for anyone who says anything like this anyway. I can't afford to spend money on a US stadium tour (I'd love to, but I can't) neither am I an nfl fan (since when did your enjoyment of stadiums depend on whether you follow the sport?) but I like this stadium, a lot, and I enjoy good pics and good talk about it. This thread is harmless, all he's doing is saying hey I have some pics of a pretty big, nice important stadium, I'll make a thread for anyone who is interested, and I am and I'm thankful, so thanks sercan!

I'm a kind of guy who, in liking stadiums, likes to see them all, in case I miss a good one.

Has anyone got pics of the facade and outside? I remember it being quite good but this thread mainly has interior shots (albeit, good ones).

It's a good stadium. 73,504 is perfect for Charlotte too (the Panthers draw from all over Carolina, so that helps).

Sightlines might be the best in America, and I'm not exaggerating. Not a bad seat in the lot.

It has some drawbacks, tickets are really expensive though I'm not sure how they compare to other NFL stadiums, and the lower level is usually populated by people with no interest in cheering and that makes for a dull atmosphere. Security is somewhat overzealous too.

Access is fantastic, officially it's in Third Ward, which is the northwestern section of Charlotte's CBD, or Uptown as it's called here. Being Uptown means it has great access from various forms of public transit, the CATS (bus) transit center is Uptown and LYNX (light rail) obviously goes Uptown, though it currently only runs between Uptown and South Charlotte.

The aforementioned sightlines are great for both American football and soccer, it fits a soccer pitch fabulously too. They got around 60,000 there in March for Mexico B v Iceland B and it created a good atmosphere.

It was on the World Cup bid list but didn't make the cut down to 18, I was upset by that as I thought it was more deserving than the Georgia Dome as it's clearly a superior venue but I understand the selection of Atlanta over Charlotte given international appeal.

Someone mentioned that it's a rarity in the NFL in terms of being a privately funded, team owned stadium. That's true, in fact it's one of four in the NFL that the team owns, the other 27 were built with tax dollars. So that's pretty cool, Richardson (the majority owner of the Panthers) is held in high regard in the Carolinas and that's one reason as to why.

As to the roof question, it's for two reason. 1) Being built by the team, it's very expensive as is and a roof would've greatly added to the costs. 2) Charlotte has good weather in the Autumn, the sun isn't terribly intense and usually you get a dry day.

The video screens have been enlarged but they're still small, the reason for this is the same reason I gave for the lack of a roof. It's easy to have nicer things when someone else is writing the checks, the Panthers have to be somewhat frugal.

As a random bit of trivia, if anyone cares, this is the second stadium in Charlotte to host professional football. In the 70's Charlotte had a team in the WFL, the Hornets. They played at American Legion Memorial Stadium, that's still in active use as well.

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If only we could physically lift and turn EVERY stadium so that it has a perfect view of the city. ;)

If you can't tell, this pic is 'shopped.

If it matters, a big thread was tried in the past. It failed because there were too many simultaneous conversations to maintain a coherent thread. I think separate threads works much better.

Now if there's too many for people's tastes, I don't mind suggesting a separate sub-forums by sports.

That actually may be a good idea. Or do one by leagues.

did someone ask for exterior?

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For the reasons bobby listed, this is one of my favourite American stadiums. without knowing or having seen the other 3, those are the others that top the list.

Bit wierd especially for an NFL stadium that it is has more spectators at the ends of the upper tier than at the sidelines, i'm guessing planning reasons to do with the footprint of the stadium? cant imagaine it was done by design with no constraints.

However its total folly that its not in the U.S bid. Not being an 'international city' is no reason to discount it and its neither here nor there to football(soccer) fans and more importantly to FIFA requirements and minimum (or even ideal) technical specs. It has i'm guesing, good lighting from what i can see, thats a real plus. A wide(er) pitch, also a plus. And natural grass shouldn't be a problem if it doesnt already have it. It has good transport. So FIFA would look far more favourably to this compared to the others on the bid. These are factors that haven't even been listed by by USAbid in choosing stadia, so leads me to wonder how well run that bid is. It's understandable why forumers dont get why these things are more important in stadia spec than a 100k cap and retractable roofs and giant screens etc etc but the bid team?

The only thing i'm not sure of is how well it could cope with FIFA's corporate and media 'partners' requirements. Things like sponsors hospitality spaces, vvip treatment etc which is a little more than the NFL is used to but im sure it wont be a problem than cant be fixed. FIFA also require shelter for their press area which are always huge however S.A managed this with one of their stadia so cant imagaine why it would be an insurmaountable problem.

Other than that the only thing that could hinder charlotte as a potential world cup bid city is clustering (the only reason seattle wont get a look in) and a cursory look at my globe says that should be fine.

Madness utter madness.

[edit] got bearings wrong looking at rantanamos pic, endzones have less seats.

The ACC Championship Game is here on the 4th. Charlotte is on pace to be the highest attended edition, which wouldn't be hard considering the last time it broke 70k was the first one in Jacksonville (72,000). The Charlotte Observer said 65,000 seats are already sold with the second team still TBD. It'll host next year too, the city also wants to extend the deal.

The ACC Championship Game is here on the 4th. Charlotte is on pace to be the highest attended edition, which wouldn't be hard considering the last time it broke 70k was the first one in Jacksonville (72,000). The Charlotte Observer said 65,000 seats are already sold with the second team still TBD. It'll host next year too, the city also wants to extend the deal.
The question that needs to be asked is this:

Why the hell has the game been played anywhere but Charlotte the past four years?

The question that needs to be asked is this:

Why the hell has the game been played anywhere but Charlotte the past four years?

The ACC was expecting a large presence from either Miami or Florida State in the championship, but that has really not been the case.

When you have Virginia Tech and Boston College in the game two years in a row, attendance won't be great. Virginia Tech travels well, but going down to Florida at the beginning of December for a game isn't ideal. People are tired.

I predict a packed house at this year's game, or close to it.

The ACC was expecting a large presence from either Miami or Florida State in the championship, but that has really not been the case.

When you have Virginia Tech and Boston College in the game two years in a row, attendance won't be great. Virginia Tech travels well, but going down to Florida at the beginning of December for a game isn't ideal. People are tired.

I predict a packed house at this year's game, or close to it.
If NC State can take care of business against Maryland, this game's gonna be a hit.

Well NC State did what NC State does, so it's Va Tech v Florida State. It'll still sell out though, as en1044 said, the Hokies travel well and Charlotte isn't terribly far from VT, plus they have a large alumni base in greater Charlotte. Plus general ACC fans like them, they still aren't very accepting of the two other former Big East teams, but they like VT.

Charlotte bid to host back when the game was announced, the reason given for the Florida sites is that they wanted to experiment and see how other places would do. They knew Charlotte would get a good crowd, like Greensboro (or Charlotte itself) with basketball.

I expect they'll bring UNC to the bowl again, would be easy for UNC fans to get to and with the economy being crappy, that'd make sense.

Well at this point, I think it's a lock for the ACCC to sell out. And from the looks of things, its going to pretty much be a VT home game.

Well at this point, I think it's a lock for the ACCC to sell out. And from the looks of things, its going to pretty much be a VT home game.

Do you have figures on ticket sales? I am sure FSU will bring at least a solid 12-15,000 with them.

Do you have figures on ticket sales? I am sure FSU will bring at least a solid 12-15,000 with them.

FSU only received 10K in tickets from the ACC. They have less than 4k left after last night.

Virginia Tech benefited from clinching a birth in the ACCCG a week early. They received 10k tickets to sell, but have already sold them.

Reminds me of the Arrowhead stadium a bit.

Congrats to VT, they were excellent and their fans were too. We had AWFUL weather today. It was cold, and there was sleet but they still showed up in force for their team. Florida State brought some fans too, so credit to them.

Gaston Gazette says 72,379, which is shy of a sell-out, but still a very good turn out for the weather.

Something I found kind of funny, anyway. This game is branded for Dr Pepper as the Dr Pepper Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game, but the stadium has an exclusive contract with Pepsi, so you couldn't buy Dr Pepper from the soda fountains.

Something I found kind of funny, anyway. This game is branded for Dr Pepper as the Dr Pepper Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game, but the stadium has an exclusive contract with Pepsi, so you couldn't buy Dr Pepper from the soda fountains.

Dr Pepper is independent from Coke or Pepsi (in the US). It actually is more often found with Pepsi products, as Mr. Pibb is a Coke product.

Congrats to VT, they were excellent and their fans were too. We had AWFUL weather today. It was cold, and there was sleet but they still showed up in force for their team. Florida State brought some fans too, so credit to them.

Gaston Gazette says 72,379, which is shy of a sell-out, but still a very good turn out for the weather.

Something I found kind of funny, anyway. This game is branded for Dr Pepper as the Dr Pepper Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game, but the stadium has an exclusive contract with Pepsi, so you couldn't buy Dr Pepper from the soda fountains.

Yeah, I thought we behaved pretty well. Ran into a couple idiot FSU fans, but whatever. The weather SUCKED.

As for the Dr. Pepper issue, I remember the same thing happening in Denver when Pepsi Center hosted the NBA ASG.

http://www.wcnc.com/sports/ACC-title-game-soldout-at-Bank-of-America-S-133607163.html

Another sell-out for the title game this year. That's good for our bid to keep it.

Also, the Panthers have contacted Populous about potential renovations at the stadium. Some media folks around here are speculating they'll reduce the capacity to around 67,000 to make it easier to sell out Panthers games, it isn't a problem but they've gotten in by the skin of their teeth a few times. Reduction would be an odd move considering it was quietly expanded in 2009 (seats were added above the tunnels, maxing out the capacity without upgrading the foundation). Team says they're only looking into technological upgrades though. Populous says the stadium itself is in tremendous structural shape.

It's hosting a lot more events recently though, soccer games and stuff, since Danny Morrison took over as manager. It didn't host anything in the offseason before.

http://www.wcnc.com/sports/ACC-title-game-soldout-at-Bank-of-America-S-133607163.html

Another sell-out for the title game this year. That's good for our bid to keep it.

Also, the Panthers have contacted Populous about potential renovations at the stadium. Some media folks around here are speculating they'll reduce the capacity to around 67,000 to make it easier to sell out Panthers games, it isn't a problem but they've gotten in by the skin of their teeth a few times. Reduction would be an odd move considering it was quietly expanded in 2009 (seats were added above the tunnels, maxing out the capacity without upgrading the foundation). Team says they're only looking into technological upgrades though. Populous says the stadium itself is in tremendous structural shape.

It's hosting a lot more events recently though, soccer games and stuff, since Danny Morrison took over as manager. It didn't host anything in the offseason before.

It makes the most geographical & historical sense for it to be in NC now (although that may change with the addition of SU/Pitt). I wonder if Washington might ever try to put their hat in the ring at that point. I also wonder whats different about Charlotte vs. Jacksonville in causing the large gap in ticket sales. Is it a larger corporate presence? More proximity to ACC teams? Both? Sucks that my hometown lost it.

It makes the most geographical & historical sense for it to be in NC now (although that may change with the addition of SU/Pitt). I wonder if Washington might ever try to put their hat in the ring at that point. I also wonder whats different about Charlotte vs. Jacksonville in causing the large gap in ticket sales. Is it a larger corporate presence? More proximity to ACC teams? Both? Sucks that my hometown lost it.

Charlotte is much closer to the geographic center of the ACC. It never should have been in Tampa or Jacksonville.

^^Perhaps we'll see FedEx Field at some point as well?

^^Perhaps we'll see FedEx Field at some point as well?

Eh...maybe. I think DC is an alright place for the ACC basketball tourney, but FedEx is just a pain in the ass in every way. It's also too far north.

Eh...maybe. I think DC is an alright place for the ACC basketball tourney, but FedEx is just a pain in the ass in every way. It's also too far north.
maybe if the ACC adds Rutgers and UConn...

Eh...maybe. I think DC is an alright place for the ACC basketball tourney, but FedEx is just a pain in the ass in every way. It's also too far north.

...its not that far north. Once SU/Pitt get added, it will be closer than Charlotte to almost half the teams.

maybe if the ACC adds Rutgers and UConn...

It's still too far from the base of the ACC, which will always be North Carolina.

And let's face it...Syracuse, UConn and Rutgers probably won't be competing for an ACC championship anyway.

I'm sure the ACC will actually like to sell out its championship game, which it will never do in Landover.

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^^Perhaps we'll see FedEx Field at some point as well?

Doubtful. FedEX is a dump. DC may get it if Danny World is ever built, but I don't think Charlotte will ever loose it. It does to well to justify moving it elsewhere.

It makes the most geographical & historical sense for it to be in NC now (although that may change with the addition of SU/Pitt). I wonder if Washington might ever try to put their hat in the ring at that point. I also wonder whats different about Charlotte vs. Jacksonville in causing the large gap in ticket sales. Is it a larger corporate presence? More proximity to ACC teams? Both? Sucks that my hometown lost it.en1044 is right, it should've been in Charlotte from the get-go, with the Gator Bowl retaining the #2 selection among ACC bowl teams. (Which would be more appealing since there'd be no same season repeat visitations like GT experienced) Alas, the ACC tried to be bigger than it was in FL. The eventual fallout from that mistake hurt relations with the bowl and contributed to the ACC/Gator Bowl divorce, sadly.

This relates to why the SEC CG does so well and why the BXII struggled. Atlanta is within a 7 hour drive of every SEC campus except Arkansas, and most of those areaccessible in under 6 hours. Plus there are plenty of SEC alumni throughout GA and FL. A domed MFL stadium in the conference center with plenty of hotels = easy sell.

This is also why some of us ACC fans hope the new conference members (which we love as schools) will travel if they ever make the CG. Charlotte's a great city for this type of event.

This relates to why the SEC CG does so well and why the BXII struggled.

Huh? Attendance-wise the Big XII title game did fine:

2010: 78802 (Jerryworld)
2009: 76211 (Jerryworld)
2008: 71004 (Arrowhead)
2007: 62585 (Alamodome)
2006: 80031 (Arrowhead)
2005: 71107 (Reliant)
2004: 62130 (Arrowhead)
2003: 75491 (Arrowhead)
2002: 63332 (Reliant)
2001: 65675 (Texas Stadium)
2000: 79655 (Arrowhead)
1999: 65035 (Alamodome)
1998: 60798 (Trans World)
1997: 64824 (Alamodome)
1996: 63109 (Trans World)

Huh? Attendance-wise the Big XII title game did fine: Yeah they always had strong numbers, but they had to press harder than they wanted with discounts and giveaways (not a lot, but more than they wanted), and they knew the weather was sometimes hammering them in KC. It simply wasn't as automatic as what the SEC has, which is always sold out.

Isn't the PAC CG taking place at the home stadium of the higher ranked team?

Yeah they always had strong numbers, but they had to press harder than they wanted with discounts and giveaways (not a lot, but more than they wanted), and they knew the weather was sometimes hammering them in KC. It simply wasn't as automatic as what the SEC has, which is always sold out.

Isn't the PAC CG taking place at the home stadium of the higher ranked team?

Thats correct. Although, I bet they're foaming at the mouth waiting for a new LA stadium to be built.

Yeah they always had strong numbers, but they had to press harder than they wanted with discounts and giveaways (not a lot, but more than they wanted), and they knew the weather was sometimes hammering them in KC. It simply wasn't as automatic as what the SEC has, which is always sold out.
IIRC the Big 12 game began struggling when OU rose to power and the North went to shit.

Didn't Colorado send back-to-back 7-4 teams a couple of years?

Isn't the PAC CG taking place at the home stadium of the higher ranked team?
Yes, but then again the Pac-12's geographical footprint necessitates this, at least for the first few years.

Once the new LA and 49ers stadiums are built that could change.

Yeah they always had strong numbers, but they had to press harder than they wanted with discounts and giveaways (not a lot, but more than they wanted), and they knew the weather was sometimes hammering them in KC. It simply wasn't as automatic as what the SEC has, which is always sold out.

Isn't the PAC CG taking place at the home stadium of the higher ranked team?

The SEC title game is held in Atlanta which is the unofficial capital of the south. It's also centrally located and within a 5 hour drive of half the schools (Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi State) You have a Big 12 title game in say St. Louis and you are looking at much longer travel distances.

I like how the Pac 12 is going to do the title game at the home field.

The SEC title game is held in Atlanta which is the unofficial capital of the south. It's also centrally located and within a 5 hour drive of half the schools (Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi State) You have a Big 12 title game in say St. Louis and you are looking at much longer travel distances.Gee, that sounds familiar...

(see post #52 of this thread) ;)

I like how the Pac 12 is going to do the title game at the home field.Not I. I realize the logistical hurdles the PAC is dealing with, but this is an unfair advantage to one team based on what in some years could be an arbitrary perception of who's more deserving. Kind of defeats the whole point of the game, IMO. Then again, I wish every conference had just 9 or 10 teams.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/quentinbiles/8021494753/

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Its a nice stadium does what it says on the tin.

Its a nice stadium does what it says on the tin.

LOL, nice one.

It is a great stadium, nice steep pitch to the seats, excellent sightlines, fans in the top rows are not too far from the action and it has 2 rows of suites, what more do you need?

LOL, nice one.

It is a great stadium, nice steep pitch to the seats, excellent sightlines, fans in the top rows are not too far from the action and it has 2 rows of suites, what more do you need?

well....
http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2012/09/20/3817/charlotte-mulling-taxpayer-upgrades-to-non-taxpayer-built-or-owned-panthers-stadium/

pretty minor i suppose compared to what some teams who will remain nameless (coughramsandfalconscoughcough!) are pushing for

New ScoreBoard to the stadium like Lambeau field
That concrete around the stadium ( inside ) above 1 tier and 2 or 3rd tier needs to be cover like some sort of material because now it look like a Dump Junkyard Field and like the stadium by the way

^^ We speak English here, can I get a translation? ^^

New ScoreBoard to the stadium like Lambeau field
That concrete around the stadium ( inside ) above 1 tier and 2 or 3rd tier needs to be cover like some sort of material because now it look like a Dump Junkyard Field and like the stadium by the way

... I'm sorry, but what?

I think he's saying he likes the stadium, but that all the exposed, unpainted interior concrete facades are aesthetically unpleasing.

that it sorry jet lag came from bali to australia

Wow...this stadium is awesome.:)

Panthers hire Populous to conduct a long-range study of the stadium:

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — As the Carolina Panthers finish a plan to renovate Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte leaders got a tour Wednesday of what the team may be aiming for: The new $1.6 billion MetLife Stadium that houses the NFL’s Giants and Jets.

The tour was organized by the Charlotte Chamber as part of its three-day inter-city visit to New York, and Panthers owner Jerry Richardson made the trip to speak briefly to attendees. The team hasn’t formally asked the city of Charlotte for financial help, but a number of city leaders believe they will be asked to help pay for the renovations of the 16-year-old stadium.

The City Council voted in closed session last month for city staff members to meet with the Panthers, and Mayor Anthony Foxx has invited Richardson to discuss his stadium upfit plans.

http://heraldonline.com/2012/10/24/4363042/new-nfl-stadium-impresses-city.html#storylink=misearch

It's strange, this stadium looks huge in photos from this thread but smallin the game I'm watching on TV. Eyeballing it from TV I guessed maybe 68k or so, very deceiving.

Seems to happen quite often at American stadiums does this:

Pasco man in critical condition after stadium fall

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - A New Port Richey man is in critical condition after he fell from the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC last night.

Police say 22 year-old Sean Michael Powers was attending the ACC Championship game and was on the 400 level ramp of the stadium when he fell more than 50 feet onto the grass.

He was transported to a local hospital. Paramedics on scene described his injuries as life threatening.

No other information about how this incident happened as been released.

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_pasco/pasco-man-in-critical-condition-after-stadium-fall

Seems to happen quite often at American stadiums does this:



http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_pasco/pasco-man-in-critical-condition-after-stadium-fall

It's all relative, we have more large stadiums than anywhere else, so of course we will have more drunk idiots winning Darwin awards

This one is my fav

City gives early nod to Panthers stadium money

The Charlotte City Council has given an early endorsement to the Carolina Panthers’ request for $125 million in public money for stadium renovations, voting 7-2 to gauge the support of the N.C. General Assembly.

Under the city’s plan, discussed Monday night, a 1 percent tax on prepared food and beverages would be increased to 2 percent. That money would help pay for renovations for Bank of America Stadium, the team’s home since 1996.

Voting to advance the proposal – which still needs approval from the legislature and Republican Gov. Pat McCrory – were Democrats John Autry, LaWana Mayfield, James Mitchell, David Howard, Beth Pickering, Claire Fallon and Republican Andy Dulin.

Republican Warren Cooksey and Democrat Michael Barnes voted no. Democrat Patsy Kinsey had left the meeting, and Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon, a Democrat, abstained from the nonbinding vote due to a possible conflict.

Mayor Anthony Foxx, a Democrat, didn’t vote. He has indicated in the past that he supports helping the team.

The vote was an indication to the legislature that the city supports the proposal, though some council members said they are still negotiating with the Panthers. A number of council members said they believe that McCrory and legislative leaders also support the plan.

If the General Assembly approves the tax increase, possibly next month, the City Council would then take a vote in open session to enact it.

The total cost of the stadium renovations is reportedly more than $200 million. Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is also expected to ask the state for money, according to people who attended the meeting.

Some council members are concerned about the team’s long-term future in Charlotte.

Richardson, 76, has said he won’t move the team. But it’s unclear what his succession plan is, and some fear the team could be sold and moved, possibly to Los Angeles, which doesn’t have an NFL team. Richardson had a heart transplant in 2009.

Two council members said the city is negotiating with the Panthers for some level of assurance the team would remain in Charlotte as a condition for the $125 million.

Monday’s meeting was attended by Richardson and team President Danny Morrison. Both made a presentation to council members, and then left the closed session meeting before the vote.

The team didn’t talk to the media Monday night. During a news conference Tuesday to introduce the team’s new general manager, Dave Gettleman, the team said it wouldn’t answer any questions about the stadium renovations. The team referred all questions to the city of Charlotte.

The city’s decision to discuss the Panthers request in closed session was different from how it handled a request last year from the Charlotte Knights baseball team for money to build an uptown baseball stadium.

When the Knights asked for city help, the issue was discussed in public meetings.

Some council members said Tuesday they didn’t know why the Knights stadium deliberations were held in public, while the Panthers were allowed to meet with council members in private.

“I don’t have an answer for that,” said Cooksey. He added that he would not discuss what was said in a closed session meeting.

Pickering said the Panthers are “important” to Charlotte and a public debate over the plan could have led to “misimpressions.”

She said the Knights’ desire for an uptown stadium had been discussed for years before council members considered giving the team money.

Higher food and bar taxes

Council members had previously believed that the city would increase Mecklenburg County’s hotel/motel occupancy tax to pay for stadium renovations. But city staff told council members Monday that the hotel/motel tax is high enough already.

The total Mecklenburg tax on hotel and motel rooms is 15.25 percent. The tax was raised by two percentage points last decade to pay for the $200 million NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Staff members instead turned to a countywide 1 percent tax on prepared food and beverages that was enacted more than 20 years ago to pay for the Charlotte Convention Center. That tax generates about $24 million a year.

An increase in that tax may only be for the city of Charlotte – not the entire county. If limited to the city of Charlotte, that increase would reportedly generate about $18 million or $19 million a year.

If the tax is approved, the overall sales tax for restaurant and bar purchases inside the city would increase to 9.25 percent.

For a city resident who spends $50 a week on prepared food and beverages, the tax increase would cost about 50 cents a week, or $26 a year.

The N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association has said in the past that restaurants shouldn’t be singled out for special taxes. The current president, Lynn Minges, couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.

Chris Walker, a spokesperson for McCrory, said the governor has no comment on the issue and hasn’t been approached about it.

Jordan Shaw, a spokesperson for House Speaker Thom Tillis, a Republican from Cornelius, couldn’t be reached for comment.

The possible tax increase comes as Foxx and the City Council are trying to pass a multi-year capital program, which could cost between $500 million and $900 million. Any capital plan would require a property tax increase.

Laying the groundwork

There have been indications for months that the City Council was open to helping the city’s NFL team.

In October, several council members toured MetLife Stadium, a new $1.6 billion facility in New Jersey used by the New York Giants and New York Jets. The stadium is one of the league’s most modern and luxurious, and public officials and business leaders were impressed by the stadium’s exclusive suites and club areas. The trip was part of the Charlotte Chamber’s inter-city visit.

Richardson flew to New York to speak with council members and others on the tour. A day after the stadium tour, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told the Charlotte delegation that the city could one day host a Super Bowl, so long as Bank of America Stadium is renovated and the city adds hotel rooms uptown.

The team has given only a few details of what a renovation could entail. The team told the Observer last fall that Richardson wants to add escalators to make it easier for fans to reach the upper bowl. In addition, the team wants to improve its video boards.

During Monday’s meeting, the team reportedly told council members it would also improve suites.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/01/15/3789951/charlotte-city-council-backs-carolina.html#storylink=cpy

Put a retractable on it...do it right.

Charlotte council backs $144M for Panthers stadium

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte's City Council has agreed to a plan that would give the Carolina Panthers nearly $144 million from a food-and-beverage tax hike to pay for upgrades to its downtown stadium, Mayor Anthony Foxx said Friday.

Foxx said North Carolina General Assembly approval would be needed for the city to increase its prepared food-and-beverage tax by one cent. That part of the deal hasn't been settled.

The money would be paid over 15 years and requires the team to stay in Charlotte for that period of time. That would resolve concerns from city officials that the Panthers could relocate the franchise to another city.

Team officials declined comment on the announcement, referring all questions to city officials. However, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson addressed the concerns that the team would leave town if a deal couldn't be reached.

''I never would want our team to move somewhere else. I never said that,'' Richardson said after the city council's closed-session meeting.

The Panthers are proposing $250 million in upgrades to Bank of America Stadium, including additional escalators to help fans more easily reach the upper deck, and better video boards.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/charlotte-council-backs-144m-panthers-225105331--nfl.html;_ylt=Aih8Ca37JoFw7Azzq_FVUb1DubYF;_ylu=X3oDMTRtZWVrNm90BG1pdANMSVNUUyBNaXhlZCBsaXN0IE5GTCBoZWFkbGluZXMEcGtnA2E3ZDIwZTc0LTI0YzMtMzQ0Yy1hYzg3LTU2NWViZjA1YjdjMwRwb3MDNQRzZWMDTWVkaWFCTGlzdE1peGVkTFBDQVRlbXAEdmVyAzA5Yzc4NzMwLTcyNDQtMTFlMi1iZmZmLWEwMDA4NDRhMzc5OQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTFoZHY1MWJpBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANuZmwEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

The city of Charlotte and the Carolina Panthers have reached a deal in which the city would contribute $87.5 million for renovations of Bank of America Stadium in exchange for a six -year “hard tether” to keep the team.

The city’s economic development committee unanimously approved the deal Wednesday afternoon, and the full City Council is expected to approve the proposal Monday night.

Wednesday’s agreement was more modest than the city and the Panthers had originally envisioned.

The first proposal was that the city would contribute $125 million towards stadium improvements along with $18.75 million in annual payments over 15 years for stadium maintenance and traffic control costs. The state was going to pay $62.5 million. The Panthers would have spent $62.5 million for stadium improvements and $15 million for maintenance.

For that, the Panthers would have been bound to Charlotte for 15 years.

That was contingent on the General Assembly approving an increase in the local prepared food and beverage tax. Legislators rejected that take hike, and instead only gave the city flexibility to use money from its existing Convention Center fund. Gov. Pat McCrory and legislative leaders also declined to give the team any money.

Thwarted by Raleigh, the city created a plan that gives the Panthers less money.

In exchange, the city only gets a firm six-year commitment that the Panthers stay in Charlotte. The deal also has what the city has characterized as a four-year “soft tether” after that. In those four years, the team has agreed to stay in the city, though it would be relatively easy for the Panthers to move in years 7 through 10 of the deal.

Panthers president Danny Morrison, who attended the meeting, said he considers it a 10-year agreement to keep the Panthers in Charlotte.

“The best tether of all is (majority owner) Jerry Richardson,” Morrison said after the meeting. “He loves the Carolinas. We think this is a 10-year tether.”

The short length of the firm commitment to Charlotte could mean the City Council is negotiating with the team again, as soon as after the 2016 season, when Bank of America Stadium will be 23 years old.

Morrison said it would be “premature” to speculate on whether the team would be considering a new stadium at that point. He said Wednesday that he believes Bank of America Stadium can last many more years, due to what he called its “classic design” and attractive landscaping surrounding it.

He said with the new technology improvements the team is planning, the stadium “can have a long life.”

Morrison said renovations will begin after the 2013 season.

The first phase of renovations will include escalators to take fans to the upper deck, which will cost $28 million.

The Panthers will also spend $30 million in new video boards, ribbon boards and improving the stadium sound system.

The team also plans to spend $25 million on stadium infrastructure, which includes HVAC systems. The team said it will also spend $12.5 million on concourse improvements.

Morrison said it’s possible the team could build terraces on the upper deck concourses to give fans a view of uptown skyscrapers.

But a number of projects won’t move forward because the team has less money than planned. Among the projects that have been cut: $29 million for club seats and suite improvements; $30 million for a new practice facility; and $16 million for larger entry gates, a larger ticket office and a new team store.

After the city gives the $87.5 million to the Panthers, the city’s Convention Center fund will have only $11 million left for new projects.

The center was last expanded in 2010, when the Crown Ballroom opened with the NASCAR Hall of Fame. But Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority chief executive Tom Murray has said the 17-year-old center will likely need some renovations, including new bathrooms.

It’s unclear if the $11 million remaining will be able to cover those improvements.

Deputy City Manager Ron Kimble said the city may have to ask the General Assembly for more money in the future, for additional renovations at Bank of America Stadium or the Convention Center.

“I suspect we’ll back to the well,” Kimble said. “But that’s for another day.”

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/17/3988157/city-to-revisit-panthers-stadium.html#storylink=misearch