Sports in Charlotte

[Urbanity]

Jerry Reese must be fit to be tied right about now!

[HopHead]

Jerry Reese must be fit to be tied right about now!

Yea, I'm thinking this can be rubbed in his face...

[HopHead]

Announced today... Charlotte is one of four finalists to host the 2014 X-Games! Other finalists are Austin, Detroit and Chicago. Announcement on the host city should happen sometime this summer. 

 

http://www.wbtv.com/story/22119291/charlotte-named-finalist-to-host-x-games-starting-in-2014?clienttype=generic&mobilecgbypass&buffer_share=ded5c&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer%253A%252BWBTV_News%252Bon%252Btwitter

 

EDIT: It's actually for a 3 year contract to host the games starting in 2014. So that's an even bigger deal.

Edited April 30, 2013 by wend28

[MilZ]

That would great

[Urbanity]

It would be great, but I have to admit - I love Detroit's gritty take.  Apparently they are also winning the Social Media campaign.

 

http://vimeo.com/63188666

Edited April 30, 2013 by Urbanity

[Niner National]

I think it'd be kind of lame in Charlotte if it is held at the speedway like the article indicates.

[nonillogical]

I think it'd be kind of lame in Charlotte if it is held at the speedway like the article indicates.

There is simply no other place that could accommodate many of the events, and I guarantee that most of the other cities will be using a similar outside of town venue. I'm sure you'll still see some street courses erected in view of downtown and whatnot, but there are lots of motorsport events and larger races that take LOTS of space. 

[nowensone]

Chicago has the lakefront parks to accommodate this with an awesome backdrop, Austin has a large arena just south of the river/DT and a lesser but still nice backdrop, I know nothing about Detroit, and finally Charlotte, the Speedway would be as boring as it could possibly get, surely we could put up a better site...

[nonillogical]

I think Austin is a shoe-in personally. I'd be more optimistic about our chances if it weren't a 3-year contract. 

[HopHead]

Personally, I think Austin is the front runner. It has the kind of quirkiness that would do the X Games well. The only downside there is how flippin' hot it will be in Texas in the summer. I've been there in July and August. I'll take the humidity of the southeast to be honest. It will be interesting to see how it turns out. Remember nobody thought Charlotte had a chance at landing the DNC. 

[nowensone]

^ Then we better think about having it in the actual streets of downtown, perhaps with the Panthers and the completed Knights stadiums as the southern bookends, else I agree Austin probably has it, it has a culture pretty closely matching that of the X games (I was pretty big into mountain biking when I lived there, some great courses).  But not sure Austin has anything on us in the summer heart department, NC has notably heated up in the past ~20 years IMO.

[ah59396]

The whole country has a love affair with Austin right now, whether it is warranted or not is another discussion.  But it'll probably get it.  Though I would bet we have the best facilities to accommodate it at the speedway.  It also doesn't hurt that we have an ESPN presence in Charlotte.  I'd love to see it here, I guess we will know soon enough.  

[nonillogical]

The whole country has a love affair with Austin right now, whether it is warranted or not is another discussion.  But it'll probably get it.  Though I would bet we have the best facilities to accommodate it at the speedway.  It also doesn't hurt that we have an ESPN presence in Charlotte.  I'd love to see it here, I guess we will know soon enough.  

Austin does have a formula 1/moto track which I'm sure would come in handy, though our speedway probably has the better seating situation for a variety of events. I wonder how much of an advantage our airport gives us here?

[CltFlyer]

Well without the Moto best trick now, the X-Games has fallen a notch or two in book.  Personally that was the most exciting event to watch.

[Urbanity]

Win or lose the bid for XGames I've got a hunch it will be used as a rationale to push the amateur sports complex @Bojangles.

[kermit]

Meanwhile in real sports (<-- mostly a joke) it sounds like the Belk bowl may inherit the Chickfila bowl SEC-ACC matchup in 2014 thanks to reshuffiling for the playoff format.

That game would sellout -every- year.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/05/06/4026540/college-football-bowls-set-for.html

Edited May 7, 2013 by kermit

[HopHead]

Meanwhile in real sports (<-- mostly a joke) it sounds like the Belk bowl may inherit the Chickfila bowl SEC-ACC matchup in 2014 thanks to reshuffiling for the playoff format.

That game would sellout -every- year.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/05/06/4026540/college-football-bowls-set-for.html

 

But wait... it's all about location not the teams playing. Charlotte is not a destination city and the bowl game won't sell out because of it. (end sarcasm)

[kermit]

Just back from a Charlotte Hounds lacrosse game. I was reminded that (in good weather) Memorial Stadium is a really nice venue. Views of downtown are great,  Its an ideal setting for major league lacrosse in a very Jane Jacobs kind of way.

 

Thankfully the Hounds have gotten rid of the silly token system for concessions and have upgraded their beer offerings (Sam Adams now). It was a nice night out.

Edited May 14, 2013 by kermit

[MilZ]

^that was a lot of fun and $5 a beer wasn't bad at all for a pro sporting event. I'm not sure what I was expecting as far as a crowd but I was impressed with the turnout. Good atmosphere and a great spectator sport for sure!

[ajfunder]

Charlotte is 2nd or 3rd in the MLL in attendence. Denver by far is the leader with 10,000+ fans a game (they play at Sports Authority Field at Mile High which just seems like overkill for an MLL game).

[Dale]

Imagine if the Knights were good ...

[Matthew.Brendan]

Imagine if the Knights were good ...

Knights are baseball, and are quite good in fact!

[Dale]

Knights are baseball, and are quite good in fact!

Really ? Last I checked they were 12-25.

[kermit]

The latest sign of the apocalypse: "ACC is investigating playing tournament in Madison Square Garden" (and also the Barclay's center in Brooklyn)

 

Bad news for the arena and hotels in early March. (and all fans of the ACC)

Edited May 16, 2013 by kermit

[MilZ]

Shame