The NFL Panthers' renovation plans for Bank of America Stadium include a “pair of top-of-line video boards, enhanced statistics on LED ribbon boards that encircle" the stadium and escalators to "transport fans to the upper deck," according to Joseph Person of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Design firm Populous estimated the "total cost" to be $261-297M. Panthers President Danny Morrison said that the renovations would be "done in stages," and that he "hopes work could begin" after the '13 season. He added that the Panthers "do not want monstrous video boards -- like those at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.” Morrison: “We’re not interested in putting in some overpowering video boards that don’t fit the classic design of the stadium.” The team also would spend $16M to "renovate the team store, ticket office and three entry gates" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/12). Morrison said that the renovations also will include "other technology upgrades, and improving club and suite areas." He added that the city of Charlotte’s plan to contribute $125M toward the renovation "started with a letter Mayor Anthony Foxx sent to the team last September," which led to "three months of private negotiations and debate." In Charlotte, Bethea & Morrill in a front-page piece write the negotiations between the Panthers and the city "evolved behind closed doors over the next three months." The team said that the meetings were private "because it was about an economic development matter, which North Carolina law allows to be negotiated in closed session." Foxx said, “I felt like we do in any situation where we have an existing business we want to keep, that we open conversations. ... I don’t think we just came to them and said 'We’d throw money at you.'" While the city last week announced a tentative $143.75M plan to help pay for renovations, the final details of the project "are still being worked out" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/12).
