811 replies to this topic

[gamecocksfan]

My wife and I went to the Knights Vs Braves last week. it was a great crowd that night complete with the crowd chanting "lets go Knights" in the 9th when the pitcher was trying to get the last 2 outs. It made me think how great it would be to have the stadium uptown. I would probably go to 10 or so games a years vs the 1 or 2 a go to in Fort Mill.

if the Knights were to continue the Fireworks on weekends, people would come uptown just for that. I would also go hangout even more if Old Mecklenburg Brewery moves the beer garden uptown with the team. I consider the Durham Bulls to be a rival of our Knights and think that it would draw a full house uptown when they play. I have gone to that game in Durham and always wished we could have as cool of a stadium as they have.

[jednc]

gamecocksfan, on 29 April 2012 - 08:41 AM, said:

I have gone to that game in Durham and always wished we could have as cool of a stadium as they have.

Along with as cool a name and mascot.

[dubone]

I do like the idea of regular weekly fireworks uptown at sunset.

[Skyline49er]

I still think the Charlotte Knights should team up with DC Comics and name the team the "Dark" Knights of Charlotte...wishful thinking I know..but still would be pretty sweet...

[ah59396]

Looks like the Knights are laying down a full-court press now...

http://m.charlotteob...ntguid=XgJb8t6F

[WesleyHeightsWay]

(a forwarded email I received)

Friends, Baseball Enthusiasts, Charlotte Enthusiasts, General Do-Gooders, Those bored on a Sunday Evening, Please join a group of like-minded folks in Charlotte’s first BASEBALL FLASH MOB to support bringing the Knights home to Uptown!  

On Sunday, May 6 at 6:30PM we will gather at the corner of 3rd and Mint and play a game of baseball (wiffle ball).  

There will be music, photo opportunities for kids and adults alike, and a chance for everyone to swing a bat on the future site of the Charlotte Knights Uptown Stadium!

What you need to know:

Please wear either a white or navy shirt and we will divide up teams accordingly.
If we have any umpires, little leaguers, softballers—please come dressed in your uniform!
Feel free to make signs or wear Knights gear to show your support for the team.

Please help spread the word! 

Look forward to seeing you on the pitch.   

[cltbwimob]

I have been pretty opposed to this thing all along primarily because this stadium plan and 99 year lease term is regressive thinking for such a city that is progressing so much and could potentially have an MLB team in the not-to-distant future.  I am also against the subsidies, but that is because I believe that the stadium adds little overall value to the city, and in the end may be destroyed if/when an MLB team comes.

If they would do the stadium correctly to where it could be updated/renovated readily should an MLB team move to Charlotte, I would have to retract my opposition.  If they were to build a stadium similar to TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, I could see myself getting behind this thing, especially since TD Ameritrade is a profitable venue despite having no Minor or MLB teams as tenants.

For those who don't know TD Ameritrade park is the home of the College World Series and a small college baseball team.   The stadium is capable of seating 24000 and being expanded to 35000 and is similar in layout to Nationals Park in DC.  If they can pull in 5.6 million in profit per year despite the lack of a major tenant, I think a stadium like that could do the same in Charlotte especially if the Knights were to say average 10k-12k per game and we were able to attract college baseball tournaments and build on-site hotels and apartments.  Obviously the current sight is not large enough for such a stadium as it's footprint is roughly identical to that of an MLB stadium so moving Graham Street as part of the infrastructure improvements would be an order.

It's just a pipedream, but it's a cool stadium, and the Knights could serve as a placeholder until MLB did show up.

[southslider]

If BB&T is paying any less than $8 million for naming rights, it seems City taxpayers are being "underbid" or short-changed for their contribution.

[eastsider]

This week, Piedmont Natural Gas has signed on as the first founding partner of the new Knights Stadium. They will recieve signage in the new stadium as well as other promotion opportunities.

[jednc]

eastsider, on 05 May 2012 - 09:40 AM, said:

This week, Piedmont Natural Gas has signed on as the first founding partner of the new Knights Stadium. They will recieve signage in the new stadium as well as other promotion opportunities.

Which I honestly don't understand. You either use gas or your don't. If you do, they are they only game in town...so why advertise? What am I missing here?

[kermit]

I decided to head up the road to Greensboro for some downtown minor league baseball earlier in the week (I have so little desire to go to Ft Mill for a game that I would rather ride the train 100 miles).

What I found in Greensboro was a very nicely designed ballpark, a view of downtown which (for the first time) made me feel like Greensboro was a real city, good beer which also happened to be dirt cheap on Thursdays, and a huge crowd (about 6,500 people for a single A game). A quick check of the South Atlantic League attendence data reveals that Greensboro averages 5,600 people per game and Greenville SC (another relatively new downtown ballpark) almost 4,800 so far this season. Teams in smaller markets (with fewer competing opportunities for entertainment) do much worse: http://www.milb.com/...id=116&sid=l116  Given Charlotte's AAA status the 8,600 fans the Knights need to average is not as much of a reach as I had first assumed

I will admit that there was limited activity around the ballpark (although construction was underway and some new apartments were just coming on line). Despite that, downtown baseball in Greensboro made me want to go back to downtown Greensboro in the future -- after spending my entire life thinking that Greensboro was the dullest place on earth this is a pretty big change. Don't underestimate the power of $3 dollar Yingling to draw a crowd on a sleepy weeknight, I think moving the Knights downtown will be a major improvement for the city (although Southend might be just as good).

Edited by kermit, 05 May 2012 - 06:50 PM.

[dbull75]

There was a somewhat vague article in the Charlotte Biz Journals yesterday talking about city council continues to tweak their plan for the Knights funding. Possibly reducing the $2.5  million in property tax contributions. The Knights have a little over a month to go in their June 30th deadline to have funding lined up.