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PNG named first founding partner for proposed uptown stadium

Submitted by Chris Dyches
Monday, April 30th, 2012, 1:23pm

Piedmont Natural Gas and the Charlotte Knights have signed a long-term agreement for Piedmont to become the first founding  partner of the Triple-A baseball club's proposed new stadium in uptown Charlotte.

"We believe this agreement provides a unique opportunity for Piedmont Natural Gas to make a positive and lasting impact on the city of Charlotte," said Thomas E. Skains, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Piedmont Natural Gas.

"A new ballpark in uptown Charlotte will create new jobs, fuel additional business activity and add a great family-friendly option to Center City's entertainment mix."

"We understand important decisions still need to be made, but Piedmont looks forward to supporting what we believe will be an economic development home run for Charlotte and the region," Skains said.

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City leaders not sold on bringing baseball to uptown

Submitted by Brigida Mack
Tuesday, April 24th, 2012, 8:35am

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The proposed Charlotte Knights Stadium may have a name but city leaders still aren't sold on bringing baseball to Center City.

It makes you wonder if the coming soon sign marking the spot at the corner of South Mint and Third Streets isn't a little bit premature.

The project's $54 million dollar price tag means the city would have to kick in $8.5 million dollars to make that happen.

And that isn't sitting well with some city leaders.

"Do they have the money on the table," is the questioned Claire Fallon, an at-large member, fired at Ron Kimble, the deputy city manager as he made the presentation Monday night. "Can they right a check for it?"

Michael Barnes, who represents District 4 has been a vocal opponent of the proposal from the beginning.

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BB&T lands naming-rights deal for proposed uptown baseball stadium

Submitted by Chris Dyches
Monday, April 23rd, 2012, 6:04pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - BB&T Corporation and the Charlotte Knights have signed a long-term agreement for BB&T to become the naming-rights sponsor for the Triple-A baseball team's proposed new stadium in uptown Charlotte. 

In addition to becoming the Knights' new home field, the planned 10,000-seat stadium in Third Ward near the future Romare Bearden Park in the heart of uptown Charlotte is expected to attract high school and college championship tournaments, concerts and many other entertainment options.

Under the agreement, the stadium would carry the BB&T name and include signage and other promotional opportunities, starting when the Knights are scheduled to begin play in April 2014.

The team, now an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, has been playing at a stadium in Fort Mill, S.C., since 1990.

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Wells Fargo Championship close to selling out, some daily passes gone

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff
Monday, April 23rd, 2012, 4:06pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Daily tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are now sold out. However, fans are reminded that you can purchase the Weekly Book which includes all three of those tickets.

Price for a weekly book is $140 and includes all three practice days, too. As far as value, the Weekly Book also represents a savings of $50 over purchasing all four competitive rounds individually, three of which are now unavailable for 2012.

 

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Officials lower funding recommendation to move Knights uptown

Submitted by Nick Needham on Thursday, April 19th, 12:41 pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -- The Charlotte Economic Development Council Committee voted 4-1 Thursday morning to lower the amount of city funding requested to move the city's baseball team uptown.

The committee recommended giving the minor league Charlotte Knights $8.5 million over 20 years, down from the $9 million over 10 years the city proposed earlier this month.

The Knights had wanted $11 million from the city. The county has already pledged $8 million to help with the move.

The recommendation will now go to Charlotte City Council for discussion and a full vote.

The team, currently located in Fort Mill, want to be uptown in time for the 2014 season.

The revised plan presented to the committee says the team will receive $2.5 million in property taxes off of the stadium site, down from $4.5 million in an earlier proposal.

Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.

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Panthers 2012 season schedule released

Submitted by Nick Needham on Wednesday, April 18th, 9:16 am

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The Carolina Panthers will start the 2012 on the road but will return home for a double header against the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants.

The Panthers will have at least two appearances in primetime, the first during Week 3 against the New York Giants on the NFL Network and the other during Week 12 against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.

The National Football League released the entire 2012 season schedule Tuesday night.

The Panthers already learned their preseason schedule earlier this month, earning a primetime game against Tim Tebow and the New York Jets on August 26 at 8 p.m. on NBC.

The Panthers will also play the Pittsburgh Steelers away in the preseason while playing the Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins at home.

Other notable games include a stop by the Dallas Cowboys (Tony Romo) during Week 7 and the Denver Broncos (Peyton Manning) on Week 10. 

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Michael Jordan slammed by former Bobcats coach

Submitted by Chris Dyches
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012, 3:18pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is catching criticism from an unexpected source, a former coach.

Sam Vincent was pretty candid when to spoke to a reporter from the Washington Post for an article posted on Sunday.  In the article, Vincent, who was head coach in 2007, questioned how active Jordan wants to be as an executive.

Vincent was also a former teammate of Jordan's on the Chicago Bulls.

"The work he put in to be a great player and the work you put in to be a great executive, those are different things," said Vincent, who was hired less than a year after Jordan became minority owner. "That additional time you spend on jump shots, running, dunking, I don't know if he puts in that same amount of time as an executive or if he even cares to."

The New York Daily News cited an unnamed source last week when it reported that Jordan might be preparing to walk away from the franchise if it can't win soon.

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