By Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Charlotte, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers shared their latest plans for a renovated practice facility.

During Monday’s Charlotte City Council zoning meeting, the team shared renderings of the proposal, which calls for the redevelopment and expansion of the existing Panthers facility in the Third Ward neighborhood near Bank of America Stadium.

The plan calls for a new fieldhouse, outdoor fields and a fan viewing deck to seat about 5,000 people. The renovated facility would be along South Cedar Street and part of West Fourth Street, city documents show.

Public documents show the Charlotte city staff recommends approval of the Panthers’ petition. However, the recommended approval is contingent upon the “resolution of outstanding issues related to transportation, land use, site and building design and environment.”

The proposed renovations for practice facilities come about two years after the Panthers tried but failed to build a facility in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

On Monday night, Charlotte resident Wesley Clark spoke before the city council.

“As you remember in our community meeting, no one at the community was ok with this,” Clark said. “We offered recommendations for adjustments.”

Clark said he and neighbors would like the team to build its new practice facility at the site of the old practice bubble.

In January, the team removed the bubble, which was officially known as the Atrium Health Dome just outside of Bank of America Stadium.

Clark said the current proposal is “an eyesore” where the team is proposing to put the new facility.

“If you’ve walked down Cedar Street before and you looked over the field, and you see that city skyline view, it is a beautiful view and this field is going to take away from that,” Clark said. “It’s going to take away from the community, it’s going to take away from the city and all we’re asking is put it on the backside.”

On Monday, attorney Jeff Brown explained how the Panthers need three 100-yard fields with “sufficient player safety runoff.” Brown said he wishes there was more room to save trees.

Plans for a future transit line also go directly next to the property.

District 2 Councilman Malcolm Graham said he, former Charlotte Council Member Al Austin and representatives with Tepper Sports and Entertainment have met two times to discuss the plans. Graham said they had a meeting last week where about 40 people heard about the proposal.

“There are a number of concerns that we heard,” Graham said.

Graham said Tepper Sports is working with city staff on “minor adjustments.”

“We talked about, again, the wall facade and the potential for community engagement there,” Graham said.

According to Graham, other discussion points included alternative material for the retaining wall, removal of trees in the area, the glass frontage of the facility, traffic impacts along Cedar Street, the views along Cedar Street and the potential impacts of property values near the proposed facility.

Graham said he hopes the city council will vote on the proposal next month.

In February, the team filed the rezoning petition to expand and upgrade the existing practice site near Bank of America Stadium.

In December 2023, the Panthers announced they would hold their 2024 training camp in Charlotte. The team had its training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, every year since 1995 other than the summer of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: wralsportsfan.com