Charlotte-based Duke Energy is in talks with the Triple-A Int'l League Charlotte Knights "for naming rights at a proposed uptown baseball stadium," according to Erik Spanberg of the CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Knights GM Dan Rajkowski said the team is "in discussions with two entities that look encouraging." He added that both companies "are based in the region." Spanberg notes a naming-rights deal "would mark a major milestone for the long-running campaign to bring baseball back" to Charlotte, and it would "give the project a shot of much-needed momentum." The team currently plays in Ft. Mill, S.C., but a "revamped deal between the Knights and Mecklenburg County calls for construction to begin on an uptown ballpark no later than Oct. 1, 2012." The deal also requires the Knights to "land two major sponsors" by March 31 and secure loans for the 10,000-seat, $55M ballpark by June 30. The team would move into the park in '14 "if the new deadlines are met." The Knights are "one of five clubs in the 14-team International League without a corporate stadium name" (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/9 issue). Duke Energy Dir of External Relations Tom Williams said, "We're talking about ways to support the effort and talking to several different folks, but we've made absolutely no decisions" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/10).
