More info on team HQ relocation

[Mr. Scot]

Starting to sound like Tepper has settled on a location in Rock Hill rather than the  previously speculated old Knights Stadium location in Fort Mill.

David Tepper looking for land in South Carolina

[TheSpecialJuan]

Tepper was serious about this, things are moving very quickly. 

[Mr. Scot]

From the local article that PFT was sourcing (The State)

Quote

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is looking to buy up to 200 acres of land in York County in the Rock Hill area to relocate the NFL team’s headquarters and build new training facilities, according to two sources close to the negotiations.

To facilitate the move, the Panthers and the S.C. governor’s office are discussing potential infrastructure projects to improve traffic flow at I-77 exits in York County, the governor’s office said.

Tepper and Gov. Henry McMaster also are working together to explore whether plans underway to extend the Rock Hill airport’s runway will be enough to meet the Panthers’ needs. If not, state or local officials could lengthen the runway even more, the governor’s office said.

And at a private meeting Wednesday between Tepper and state leaders, Tepper brought up his vision of a light rail system that would connect North Carolina’s Queen City and Rock Hill, four sources told The State. McMaster shares that vision, though the Panthers move is not contingent upon the light rail’s construction, the governor’s office and others said.

Details of the ongoing negotiations between state leaders and Tepper reveal a serious process that has advanced beyond both sides showing preliminary interest. For example, South Carolina lawmakers are working to pass legislation to ensure the team qualifies for economic incentives.

Next week, the House and Senate finance committees are slated to debate that legislation, which would offer job tax and development credits to professional sports teams. The legislation also would allow teams to avoid paying city taxes and business license fees.

Moving the Panthers headquarters and practice facility would be a huge economic boon for the I-77 corridor, state officials have said.

Wednesday, McMaster told reporters the Panthers’ potential move would include an investment of at least $150 million within four years. Tepper, he also said, has expressed interest in moving 150 employees, including the players — and their $190 million a year payroll — to the S.C. site.

Not included in negotiations is the relocation of the Panthers stadium across state lines, three sources told The State.

 

[jfra78]

7 minutes ago, usr_wheres_my_hug said:

now all we have to do is move out of spartanburg, which might as well be the spike pit in mortal kombat

i agree, greenville is just a few mins away

[cookinwithgas]

well bummed as the old Knights stadium is just a few minutes away but this is actually a great idea and needs to be executed. The only thing I am worried about is the sale of the current practice field land and how that will affect tailgating in that area. I would have to assume that the walkway from Cedar under the railroad tracks will remain although removing it would most likely increase use of the south gate (good for stadium congestion)

[Mr. Scot]

The Wofford contract ends after this year.

I fully expect future training camps to be held in the new practice facilities.

[pnthrs]

8 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

The Wofford contract ends after this year.

I fully expect future training camps to be held in the new practice facilities.

Yeah. Tepper is going to want this facility to be a revenue maker along with a cost cutter. I’m guessing part of this facility will soon include commercial and office space (and a light rail) and he will want fans there from Jan-Sept.  I am also guessing part of this facility will be reserved for blackmail when he is ready to dance with CLT and NC over a new stadium  we will see  

 

what is he going to do with all the space in the stadium that currently houses the staff?  

 

Edit: to answer my own question : what if he renovated the vacant office space in BOA into bars and restaurants that can be open year round like other stadiums do. The space would be prime on game day and would provide year round revenue for the facility. I’d love to go to a bar that had a view of the field in March ...  

[countryboi]

1 hour ago, Mr. Scot said:

Starting to sound like Tepper has settled on a location in Rock Hill rather than the  previously speculated old Knights Stadium location in Fort Mill.

David Tepper looking for land in South Carolina

Boo this..i just knew i was right on this. that said this is the right move other than going to Rock Hill

[Mr. Scot]

18 minutes ago, pnthrs said:

what is he going to do with all the space in the stadium that currently houses the staff?  

Edit: to answer my own question : what if he renovated the vacant office space in BOA into bars and restaurants that can be open year round like other stadiums do. The space would be prime on game day and would provide year round revenue for the facility. I’d love to go to a bar that had a view of the field in March ...  

I was actually wondering about that too.

[Snake]

22 minutes ago, pnthrs said:

Yeah. Tepper is going to want this facility to be a revenue maker along with a cost cutter. I’m guessing part of this facility will soon include commercial and office space (and a light rail) and he will want fans there from Jan-Sept.  I am also guessing part of this facility will be reserved for blackmail when he is ready to dance with CLT and NC over a new stadium  we will see  

 

what is he going to do with all the space in the stadium that currently houses the staff?  

 

Edit: to answer my own question : what if he renovated the vacant office space in BOA into bars and restaurants that can be open year round like other stadiums do. The space would be prime on game day and would provide year round revenue for the facility. I’d love to go to a bar that had a view of the field in March ...  

Won't be much blackmail. Charlotte is full of Yankee board members will price Charlotte out of a new stadium.

[panthersphan]

Nothing but speculation, but I bet the new stadium eventually gets built where the current practice fields are Uptown.

 

As a Charlotte kid who has no ties to SC besides my girlfriend is from Aiken - we live in Colorado now - I'm a bit bummed about them moving the practice facilities and HQ to Rock Hill, but I completely understand this move. Hell, it is the Carolina Panthers and all SC has ever had is TC and the inaugural season 24 years ago. And let's be honest, Rock Hill is basically a Charlotte suburb at this point anyways. I would've loved to see them put the HQ and practice facility at the old Knights site, utilizing and repurposing a wasted plot of land that once meant something to the region. Also would've been 15-20 minutes from my parents place back in Charlotte...

 

But anyone worried about them moving the stadium to SC one day should relax. This move gives SC their share of the team. They are the Carolina Panthers, that's been Tepper's point the entire time, and moving the stadium - along with everything else - would completely contradict the entire point of this move and the whole 0ne Carolina thing, to market the team in SC more and to build a larger overall fanbase which  = more revenue. If they built a new stadium in SC, then it would be all SC, no NC...which makes no sense from a marketing and revenue standpoint as it would alienate the rest of NC even more from the team. That won't happen under Tepper's watch. He has said time and time again that Charlotte is where this team will play and that it's the perfect place for them to be playing. And he's hinted at a new practice facility in SC since day one. He has been very transparent at this point, and I don't see that changing with him. This dude is different than JR, and we've seen that right from the get-go...

[FakePlasticTrees]

I live in Rock Hill. I suspect that he has already optioned some property; otherwise, it makes little sense to be so public about location.

I love the light rail concept given the commonplace gridlock that has become the hallmark of I 77. It sounds as though he may be planning more commercial development in the area of the stadium (old practice facilities) and planned location for the new facilities and headquarters.

I do hope the State of South Carolina "steps up". Otherwise, our property taxes are likely to rise significantly, which is one of the reasons so many people people prefer York County.

I foresee watching practices in the near future. 

[Mr. Scot]

9 minutes ago, FakePlasticTrees said:

I live in Rock Hill. I suspect that he has already optioned some property; otherwise, it makes little sense to be so public about location.

I love the light rail concept given the commonplace gridlock that has become the hallmark of I 77. It sounds as though he may be planning more commercial development in the area of the stadium (old practice facilities) and planned location for the new facilities and headquarters.

I do hope the State of South Carolina "steps up". Otherwise, our property taxes are likely to rise significantly, which is one of the reasons so many people people prefer York County.

I foresee watching practices in the near future. 

Kinda expect this will be a closed facility though, don't ya think?

[FakePlasticTrees]

5 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Kinda expect this will be a closed facility though, don't ya think?

To be honest, I was really thinking about training camp practices. I thought they were open in Spartanburg; however, I never made that trip to know firsthand. If he also plans to develop the surrounding area of any new facility then being able to view some practices could be a draw.

I do know that some practices are clearly closed even to the media in advance of games; however, I thought many practices were open.

You know what they about assuming.