The city of Cleveland has agreed to give the Browns a “$5.8 million lump sum for stadium repairs, but public officials worry about the source of such payments after a countywide tax for maintaining the building runs out in 2015,” according to Thomas Ott of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The Cleveland City Council yesterday voted 16-2 to “let the team take the money from a city-administered tax on alcohol and tobacco sales.” The city “leases the stadium to the football team" and is required to provide "only $850,000 a year for major improvements.” Browns General Counsel Fred Nance said that the $850,000 figure was a "compromise at the time the agreement was drawn up.” He added that the amount, equal to "less than 1 percent of the building's $300 million construction cost, is not nearly enough to cover what he termed routine work.” Ott reports the Browns want to use the nearly $6M “to refurbish seats and replace, repair and waterproof concrete inside and outside the 12-year-old building.” Ken Silliman, the Chief of Staff of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, said that the amount approved yesterday “is supposed to free the city from its repair obligations for seven years.” However, Silliman would not "rule out tapping sin-tax money again during that time if necessary.” Silliman: “We own Cleveland Browns Stadium. When you own a building and a few years go by, it starts to develop needs. It's just like when you own a home." Ott notes Cleveland's obligations for stadium repairs “will spike from $850,000 to $5.9 million a year in 2021.” The amount will “continue to rise annually, reaching $7.1 million before the lease runs out in 2025” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER 2/7).

The Bobcats “hope to have a plan for upgrading” Time Warner Cable Arena before the venue hosts the Democratic National Convention in September, according to Erik Spanberg of the CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL. The team hired architect Populous “to analyze an arena revamp,” which could mean “conversion of some luxury suites to party areas and lounges, among other changes.” Bobcats President & COO Fred Whitfield said, “We’ve looked at some preliminary drawings, and we’re in the process of discussing things internally to prioritize what areas of the building would make sense for us to move forward with first.” Plans are “expected to take shape this spring” (CHARLOTTE BUSINES JOURNAL, 2/3 issue). Meanwhile, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and City Council member James Mitchell “expect to discuss possible city funding” for renovations to Bank of America Stadium with NFL Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson later this month. Mitchell, who serves as City Council Economic Development Committee Chair, said, “We just know there’s a need, there’s a role. They would like the city to participate in some type of new development. We just don’t know what that is.” The Panthers have been “noncommittal when asked about using taxpayer money to update the stadium.” Panthers President Danny Morrison said that the team “must outline priorities and costs for the stadium improvements before it tackles anything else.” Morrison: “We’re trying to focus on the master plan to see the needs of the stadium over the next decade.” The team “could be willing to consider a slight reduction in capacity to create more ticket demand.” The Panthers “might also consider changes” to the 158 luxury suites and 11,000 club seats. Mitchell said that the city “could justify an investment in the Panthers renovations based on results from an economic impact study due this month” (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/3 issue).