How much should Charlotte spend on Panthers stadium? We asked City Council candidates
Charlotte could end up spending hundreds of million of dollars in possible Bank of America stadium renovations, but City Council candidates are largely noncommittal about how much the city should chip in.
The council discussed in a closed session in January a “potential framework” for a $1.2 billion renovation of Bank of America stadium using $600 million in public money, Observer news partner WSOC reported in May. Opened in 1996, the stadium was last renovated in 2021 ahead of the launch of Charlotte FC. That $50 million project was privately funded. And the Panthers haven’t formally announced plans to renovate or replace the stadium or whether they’d want government support.
More analysis is needed before the city can decide the minimum and the maximum commitment it should give to the Carolina Panthers for stadium renovations, multiple candidates said in their responses to The Charlotte Observer’s 2023 candidate surveys.
A Tepper Sports and Entertainment spokesman declined to comment about potential stadium renovations.
“Without a financial analysis or feasibility analysis, any answer would be premature,” said Councilwoman Victoria Watlington, who currently represents District 3 and is seeking an at-large seat. “Ultimately, this will depend on how this project impacts our ability to fund other tourism initiatives, and the overall return on investment to the community.”
It would “be a disservice to our taxpayers to throw a number out there without proper due diligence or understanding the community’s needs,” said at-large Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera, who’s running for reelection.
Fellow Councilman Malcolm Graham, who faces a primary challenge in District 2, wrote the “decision to invest should be and the level of investment should be based on a wide variety of other factors,” noting the economic impacts of the Panthers and Charlotte FC.
Graham’s primary challenger, Gary Young II, said he’s “not opposed” to public money going towards stadium renovations.
“I feel meeting ownership halfway would be sufficient,” he said, adding that he “would be open to more being deployed for the project” if money would create jobs or generate tax revenue.
Good stadium deals are possible, councilman says
District 6 Councilman Tariq Bokhari, who doesn’t have a Republican primary challenger but will face a Democrat in the general election, said he believes specific spending figures shouldn’t be set at this point in the process.
“Most stadium deals are not good ones, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible,” he wrote. “But the first step to achieving the uncommon is not to set a number for the taking and not contemplate the deal terms.”
Bokhari’s general election opponent in District 6, Stephanie Hand, said she believes it’s important for the council to consider its priorities when deciding how much to spend on projects such as stadium renovations.
“As leaders we must constantly ask questions about the city’s priorities, economic impact and sustainability for business, and organizations. This requires leaders to intentionally listen to the public,” she wrote.
City shouldn’t spend $600 million on Panthers, challenger says
Others were more direct in their responses.
Curtis Hayes Jr., a Democratic challenger in District 5, said the city “should not give the funding of $600 million to a billionaire to upgrade or renovate Bank of America Stadium.”
“Our city has been taken hostage by developers and big business for too long,” he said. “We should use these dollars to address the needs of the constituents of our communities.”
Another Democratic primary challenger, Wil Russell of District 4, said he thinks “the city should lobby the General Assembly to extend the food and beverage taxes and hotel/motel taxes until 2060” as “a minimum commitment to the Carolina Panthers.”
Charlotte’s 1% food and beverage tax and a 2% hotel occupancy tax, which help fund tourism and hospitality related projects, are currently set to expire in 2031 and 2038, respectively. But they could be extended in the state legislature’s forthcoming budget. House Bill 408, introduced by north Mecklenburg Republican Rep. John Bradford, proposed extending the taxes to 2060. It has been stuck in the House rules committee since May.
“When elected, I plan to learn about each stadium renovation proposal on the table,” Russell continued in his survey answer. “That will help me better assess the maximum commitment resident tax dollars should be earmarked for the stadium. I love the Panthers, and I want to find an option that works for both residents and the team.”
Current District 4 representative Renee Perkins Johnson wrote in her survey response that it “would be premature to provide an accurate response as we as City Council members prepare to enter into decisions regarding a public-private partnership.”
The third Democratic primary candidate in District 4, Olivia Scott, said she believes the importance of Bank of America Stadium to Charlotte’s economy “cannot be understated.”
“Going forward and to be fair to all our Charlotte taxpayers we cannot simply write a ‘blank check’ for renovations. We must encourage, create and negotiate a public-private partnership to oversee stadium upgrades,” she continued.
