BB&T Ballpark (Charlotte)
| BB&T Ballpark[1] | |
|---|---|
| Uptown Ballpark | |
 | |
| Location |
424 West Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28202 |
| Coordinates | 35°13′41″N 80°50′56″W / 35.227988°N 80.849011°WCoordinates: 35°13′41″N 80°50′56″W / 35.227988°N 80.849011°W |
| Broke ground | September 14, 2012[2] |
| Opened | April 11, 2014[3] |
| Owner | Mecklenburg County |
| Operator | Knights Baseball, LLC |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | $54 million |
| Architect | O'Dell Associates, Inc.[4] |
| Services engineer | Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. |
| General contractor | Barton Malow/R.J. Leeper/Rodgers[4] |
| Capacity | 10,000 |
| Tenants | |
| Charlotte Knights (IL) (2014-future) | |
BB&T Ballpark[1] is the official name of a new baseball stadium that is being built in Charlotte, North Carolina's uptown area. The stadium will host the Charlotte Knights of the International League (AAA) who currently play at Knights Stadium (Knights Castle to locals) in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
History
An uptown stadium for the Knights had been a long-running saga in Charlotte, that had occasionally been a hot button issue. The Knights have been consistently last in the IL in terms of attendance while at Knights Stadium.
In August 2006 the stadium became the source of more debate, as Mecklenburg County commission chairman Parks Helms (D-Charlotte) said he would stall an arts project until the Charlotte City Council looked at a proposal he backs to bring baseball to uptown.
Furthermore, it could expand the Atlantic Coast Conference's plans to return the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament to Charlotte. The ACC tournament had been held at Fort Mill until the NCAA's ban on South Carolina having predetermined championships took effect because of NAACP pressure in relation to the boycott of the state by the organization.
Multiple new mid-rise hotels are also expected to open, along with restaurants and retail.
Problems
The project has been repeatedly blocked by Jerry Reese, a Charlotte lawyer who claims the land swap is illegal.[5] Reese has ambitions to move a Major League Baseball team to Charlotte and views the Knights Stadium as a detriment.[6]
Naming rights
On April 23, 2012, it was announced that BB&T Corporation acquired the naming rights for the new ballpark. The terms of the deal were undisclosed and the ballpark will be known as BB&T Ballpark.[1]
Features
Two club areas (Upper & Lower Level) and both will offer skyline views as well as access to a VIP, climate-controlled club with full service bar.[7] In total, there will be 975 club seats and 22 luxury suites at the ballpark.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lyttle, Steve (April 23, 2012). "BB&T, Knights Agree on Uptown Ballpark Rights". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- ↑ Bethea, April (September 14, 2012). "Knights Break Ground on Stadium to Bring Baseball Back to Charlotte". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
- ↑ Weinrib, Ben (July 31, 2013). "Charlotte Knights Announce Date for First Uptown Game at BB&T Ballpark". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Charlotte Knights Uptown Baseball Stadium". Odell Associates, Inc. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
- ↑ "Attorneys Argue Baseball Land Swap Lawsuit In Union County". WSOC (Charlotte). April 30, 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2008.
- ↑ Spanberg, Erik (February 6, 2006). "A Major League Income Shortfall". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved February 6, 2006.
- ↑ "Club Seats". Charlotte Knights at Uptown. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
- ↑ Spanburg, Erik (July 5, 2013). "BB&T Ballpark Is Reshaping Charlotte Knights Franchise". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
External links
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