Tepper asking the city of Charlotte to pay for MLS stadium

[Carl Spackler]

1 minute ago, Nails said:

What is NOT an assumption is that the VAST majority of PSL owners that have pumped tens or perhaps even hundreds of thousands of dollars into their PSLs themselves and tickets since 1996 will NOT pony up again for new/different/unknown seats-and may even turn their TVs off and take a nap on Sunday afternoons.

it'd be different if Greg Hardy were still playing

[Car123]

19 minutes ago, jbland said:

Thats already happening now but for minor league soccer. 

I've seen renderings and they're far from spectacular. Such a prime location would be better for a major league team and a first-rate stadium. I wish they could brush off Marcus Smith's blueprints.

[Bartin]

50 minutes ago, tiger7_88 said:

The MLS always fears playing their product in large arenas due to the bad look of "empty seats".

Now I think the Charlotte area would pack BofA for MLS if Tepper rolled out a good product (a la (and no offense here) Arthur Blank in Atlanta), but that doesn't do anything to comfort MLS's *present* fears.

So what would they do? Remove the upper deck for soccer games? I would understand if he was asking for this kind of money for a stand-alone stadium that held 20-30k to not risk huge swaths of empty seats or tarps covering the upper deck, but what can they possibly need that type of money for to do soccer specific renovations to BoA?

To me it feels like he is using the soccer angle to get the money he wants for the roof and he will claim it is too hot in the summer to play day games so that’s why he needs the roof. Once he gets the roof he can start to try and get Super Bowls and Final Fours.

[fortyrod]

24 minutes ago, TheMaulClaw said:

Those are all assumptions bud.  You think if they built a brand new stadium 15 mins from uptown Charlotte thats pretty much its own town with the lightrail extended no one would go? Hell people in south Charlotte drive to SC for gas.

Gas, fireworks, and likker. Stuff that burns and/or explodes. I guess that probably covers the Panthers too.

[morgan55]

1 hour ago, TheMaulClaw said:

Tepper is smart. All he has to do is say this. Do you want the Panthers to play here or in SC?  Either you're going to build one or I'm taking the new Panthers stadium over the border. Done.

Bye... who’s paying for that? 

[tiger7_88]

21 minutes ago, Bartin said:

So what would they do? Remove the upper deck for soccer games? I would understand if he was asking for this kind of money for a stand-alone stadium that held 20-30k to not risk huge swaths of empty seats or tarps covering the upper deck, but what can they possibly need that type of money for to do soccer specific renovations to BoA?

To me it feels like he is using the soccer angle to get the money he wants for the roof and he will claim it is too hot in the summer to play day games so that’s why he needs the roof. Once he gets the roof he can start to try and get Super Bowls and Final Fours.

Actually, for the "lesser" matchups, Mercedes Benz Stadium does tarp-over the upper level and only sells tickets for the middle and lower levels, totaling 42,500.  In an enclosed stadium, it doesn't look that bad (they use specially-designed team tarps). 

But for major regular season opponents, non-league cup matches, and playoffs, they open the whole thing up and sell it out (over 73,000 for the MLS Cup last year). 

[Bartin]

Just now, tiger7_88 said:

Actually, for the "lesser" matchups, Mercedes Benz Stadium does tarp-over the upper level and only sells tickets for the middle and lower levels, totaling 42,500.  In an enclosed stadium, it doesn't look that bad (they use specially-designed team tarps). 

But for major regular season opponents, non-league cup matches, and playoffs, they open the whole thing up and sell it out (over 73,000 for the MLS Cup last year). 

Tarps don’t cost $100-200M. I’m wondering why he needs that much money for soccer specific renovations. What else could the stadium need that’s specific to soccer?

[raleigh-panther]

3 hours ago, TheMaulClaw said:

Those are all assumptions bud.  You think if they built a brand new stadium 15 mins from uptown Charlotte thats pretty much its own town with the lightrail extended no one would go? Hell people in south Charlotte drive to SC for gas.

Yes but psls require a commitment. A very long commitment  people don’t get that 

team is bad. Too bad 

team has injuries. Too bad 

Don’t like preseason. Too bad

want to go to a playoff game , that’s extra. A lot extra. 

Lost your job. Too bad. 

Point being, it is going to cost a lot of money and I’m not sure Charlotte can carry it

[Diehardpanther02]

Know why Tepper wants an MLS stadium, probably wants to move them in BOA to have an even better execuse to build somewhere else.

 

 

Just a thought.

[Zeek]

I agree with the “build a new stadium to house both MLS and Panthers” crowd. But Tepper’s gotta put up on his end too.

[SBiii]

Tepper....

....write the check --- you are an $11 billionaire.

Call his bluff, no way he moves the team under any circumstances.

[Ja Rhule]

13 hours ago, Bartin said:

Tarps don’t cost $100-200M. I’m wondering why he needs that much money for soccer specific renovations. What else could the stadium need that’s specific to soccer?

Soccer and NFL fields are different sizes.  It will likely require destroying part of cement sitting on each side and replacing it with foldable sitting so people do not lose PSL seats.  

NFL field is about 53 yards wide and soccer field should be 70-80 yards wide.  So BofA field need to be widened by about 20 yards.  

Soccer players hate playing on NFL fields as 22 players are compacted into much smaller area.  It negatively impacts the game and fan experience.

[Panthro]

1 hour ago, ARSEN said:

 It negatively impacts the game and fan experience.

The negative experience could come from the fact they're watching soccer.

[Ja Rhule]

1 hour ago, Panthro said:

The negative experience could come from the fact they're watching soccer.

Nah, people who understand soccer know what it’s all about.  No different than watching baseball, golf and etc.  Many people deem NFL unwatchable because 60% of it are commercials.