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The Panthers WILL get a sizeable chunk of public (taxpayer) money for stadium upgrades. Again, the "fiscal" conservative governor will see to it, much like he did for Time Warner Arena. Right now, there is a lot of political posturing and lawmakers going on the record as being opposed to raising taxes and/or using public funds to support millionares. Once reality comes to surface, the flip flopping and wordsmithing will rear it's ugly head so the so-called "conservatives" can cya. There is nothing new to see here....move along folks.
IMO, I think they should keep any money or justification for stadium upgrades to a minimum. The place is only 17 year old or so, plus the longer term vision 15-20 years from now should be for a domed environment similar to Reliant Stadium in Houston. Charlotte has always wanted play with the big boyz....why stop now?
Regardless of if the small towns send a nickel, the funds will raise $115m for the team. Now, there are discussions ongoing about a lower food tax to bridge the gap between $115 and the total of $200m. So, to date we are a total of $85m short in what is needed for the team. As I said before, if we let a team walk for that amount of money, less than 10% of the city's budget, we will have a hard time convincing businesses that we are serious about development. ....
The tax revenue from the existing tax is well known. The city council can decide if they want to use the money on the BofA upgrades or the Convention Center. They risk losing convention business to other cities with better facilities vs nothing with the Panthers since the Richardson says he is staying in Charlotte regardless of the outcome.
There are no other bills in front of the legislature on this issue. Get back to me when one is submitted and receives its first reading in the House or Senate.
....Again, the "fiscal" conservative governor will see to it, much like he did for Time Warner Arena.....?
I'd be interested in your theory on the mechanics on how he might accomplish this.
I don't see it happening myself. He has much bigger fish to fry and whatever happens to the Panthers, especially since, for now, they are staying regardless of anything, means nothing to what happens in the state government. IMO, McCrory needs the Eastern Jessiecrats to win re-election and he doesn't get there by wasting a lot of political capital on Jerry Richardson.
I'd be interested in your theory on the mechanics on how he might accomplish this.
I don't see it happening myself. He has much bigger fish to fry and whatever happens to the Panthers, especially since, for now, they are staying regardless of anything, means nothing to what happens in the state government. IMO, McCrory needs the Eastern Jessiecrats to win re-election and he doesn't get there by wasting a lot of political capital on Jerry Richardson.
But isn't this the same gubner that was able to assemble a coaltion to build the unpopular arena? It's not a huge amount of money (relatively speaking) but more so the idea of supporting millionares which causes lawmakers to balk. Surely McGenious can navigate the halls of Raleigh and persuade a couple of Jessicrats...take all of a day or so, then he can move on to more important matters. Again, it'll all workout in the end...taxpayer money.
But isn't this the same gubner that was able to assemble a coaltion to build the unpopular arena? It's not a huge amount of money (relatively speaking) but more so the idea of supporting millionares which causes lawmakers to balk. Surely McGenious can navigate the halls of Raleigh and persuade a couple of Jessicrats...take all of a day or so, then he can move on to more important matters. Again, it'll all workout in the end...taxpayer money.
Whatever Atlanta does, Charlotte will copy (or attempt to). Its the city's barometer for assessing a migration to the "big" time. I don't Charlotte goes another 20 years without some sort of dome proposal. Wasn't that guy Jerry Reese holding up construction of the new baseball park due to his vision of building a dome? Hey, it's already happening.
But isn't this the same gubner that was able to assemble a coaltion to build the unpopular arena? .....
He did, but it was done completely with city taxes, a loan from one of the banks, and by selling off city own property. The first time he ran for governor, he lost the election in part because he lost his home county with the arena being one of the reasons for it. I'm sure that was a lesson not lost. He also has backers now who don't have an uptown Charlotte based agenda.
.....Wasn't that guy Jerry Reese holding up construction of the new baseball park due to his vision of building a dome? Hey, it's already happening.
No. He wanted to bring a different baseball team to CLT and argued the city & county government violated state law by not giving him a chance to bid for the same incentives.
He did, but it was done completely with city taxes, a loan from one of the banks, and by selling off city own property. The first time he ran for governor, he lost the election in part because he lost his home county with the arena being one of the reasons for it. I'm sure that was a lesson not lost. He also has backers now who don't have an uptown Charlotte based agenda.
He lost a democratic leaning county because of the arena? Even McCrory admitted losing because the president was so strong in NC and carried the state. I don't think the arena would be a top 5 reason why he lost Meck. That is a stretch and a self supporting argument that neo cons like to believe. Fact is, we are better for having the arena but that is another thread.
As I have said many times, he (the gov) will lose more credibility if the team leaves for LA under his term, he know it and does not want that to happen.
Richardson has said he will not move the team, so did George Shinn. if Richardson is no longer around, the fact is that the team will be sold. Someone without Charlotte or nC ties is going to shop for the best deal. At that time, if the team is not tied to Charlotte, we will pay multiples of $200m to keep the team.
No. He wanted to bring a different baseball team to CLT and argued the city & county government violated state law by not giving him a chance to bid for the same incentives.
Of course it was to relocate a team plus the usual incentives...but from my recollection he wanted to build a dome instead of a traditional baseball park, partly to pursue events like the NCAA final four that require minimum seating capacity of 30,000.
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