If Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper wants a new or renovated stadium, he’ll have to build it without out the help of Mecklenburg County.
This past week, County Manager Dena Diorio shot down the idea of handing over public subsidies to its local professional sports franchises, the Panthers and the Charlotte Hornets. The topic came up during a conversation regarding the development of a new tennis complex in the River District, one the county is spending up to $30 million on.
When asked by Commissioner Pat Cotham if devoting such funds to the complex would eventually lead to the same for the pro teams, Diorio — per Steve Harrison of WFAE — said the following:
“And I have had a conversation with (Panthers owner) David Tepper in the past, that the county would not participate in any financial support for stadium upgrades because of what you (Cotham) said — that the city has a specific tax (on hotels and food and beverage preparation) that’s dedicated to that purpose, and the county does not have that.”
Tepper hasn’t kept his hopes for a new venue or a renovated Bank of America Stadium under wraps. The billionaire owner has stated on numerous occasions that he won’t be building a new stadium alone.
Well, while it may not be alone with the city of Charlotte in talks over a recent $1.2 billion proposal from Tepper Sports and Entertainment, it probably won’t be with the county.
