In Charlotte, Steve Harrison notes the city is “committed to giving the Carolina Panthers financial help to renovate Bank of America Stadium." However, City Council member James Mitchell yesterday said that Charlotte will “likely be short of its original $144 million pledge to the team.” Mitchell said that the city will “use $110 million of debt capacity from the Convention Center fund to help the Panthers.” But he added that the team will “have to share some of that money with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.” In addition, he “ruled out using other tax dollars to help the team” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/9).
THE REAL DEAL: In K.C., Joyce Smith notes the new Royals Authentics store that opened yesterday in Kauffman Stadium sells MLB-authenticated items, including “bases, baseballs, batting gloves and helmets, jerseys, and more.” It also has “collectibles autographed by current and past" Royals players that "are authenticated by" MLB. A website will be “launched later this season for online ordering.” The shop will “donate about 20 percent of the proceeds to the Royals Charities, which supports children, education, youth baseball and military efforts in and around” the K.C. area (K.C. STAR, 4/9).
AT LIBERTY TO RENOVATE: In Memphis, Thomas Bailey Jr. reports the city late last week “got a building permit to bring the 48-year-old Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and to make other improvements.” The document filed Friday stated that the construction “will cost $9,120,307.” The plan approved by the City Council in January “will eliminate 1,700 seats to create space for 282 wheelchair spots and 282 companion seats, most along Row 25.” Seating capacity will “drop from the current 61,008 to 59,308” (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 4/9).
