Stadium improvements

[scratchy1]

I had the opportunity to speak this morning with someone who is familiar with the stadium improvement project. He told me that the scope of the proposed improvements has expanded and the cost is likely to be well in excess of the $250 million that's been kicked around in the media. He also told me that although he is not close to the internal process, based on budgets and other materials that he has seen, he expects that the Richardsons will request a public contribution that is "much, much" greater than the "assumed" $80 million figure that (for reasons he described as "divorced from reality") some City Council members seem to be expecting. His (close to exact) quote was "if people are expecting an $80 million ask, I think they're gonna be picking their jaws off the floor."

[Match.com]

interesting!!!

[jtnc]

The stadium cannot be in that much bad shape, it is only 16 years old, wtf?

[Match.com]

LA...here we come...

[csx]

but lazy people and nerds want escalators and wifi

[SCP]

I didn't speak to anybody but I heard a city councilman on The Mac Attack show this morning and he seemed put off by the fact that the Panthers would ask for public money. He said there is a billionaire over there that should be able to handle his business. This could get uglier than we originally thought based on the comments I heard.

[SCP]

Maybe scratchy1 is from the Mac show?

[csx]

I didn't speak to anybody but I heard a city councilman on The Mac Attack show this morning and he seemed put off by the fact that the Panthers would ask for public money. He said thwre is a billionaire over there that should be anle to handle his business. This could get uglier than we originally thought based on the comments I heard.

It could just all be part of how these types of negotiations go....posturing by both sides

[Frizzy350]

why does a stadium need wifi? aren't you there to entertain yourself with a football game?

[MrBubba]

why does a stadium need wifi? aren't you there to entertain yourself with a football game?

So you can check on your fantasy team, and twitter about the game and facebook your friends; everything but actually watch the game.

[Doyle]

Ask for 250 million and hope to get 125. I'm sure this will be the thinking.

[SCP]

It could just all be part of how these types of negotiations go....posturing by both sides

It's obvious that's what it is but it will get uglier than I anticipated it would. Fortunately Charlotte leaders realize that losing an NFL team would send the city back to the pre-80's southern red brick days.

[rayzor]

i wish he would put some of that money into hiring the best coaching staff and FO money can buy.

putting a better product on the field is the best upgrade that stadium could have and would go the furtherest towards filling up the stands with panther fans.

[Scrumtrilescent]

I've said since day one, more leg room for tall people.

And escalators.