CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Members of Charlotte’s Zoning Committee will meet Tuesday evening to vote on rezoning 12 acres of land next to Bank of America Stadium. The purpose is to improve and upgrade the team’s practice facility, including constructing an indoor field house that would include a full-size football field and space for 5,000 fans.
The Panthers organization has already begun redeveloping its outdoor practice fields, with the hope they’ll be completed by training camp in late July. Training camp will be hosted in Charlotte this year, rather than in Spartanburg where it’s been held since 1995 (with the exception of 2020 during the pandemic).
Some community members have expressed opposition to the field house because of its proposed height: 70 feet. The bubble that previously stood in its place was only 65 feet high, and they worry the skyline view may be obstructed by the taller structure.
“If you’ve walked down Cedar Street before and you’ve looked over the field and you see that city skyline view, it was a beautiful view, and this field is going to take away from that. It’s going to take away from the community, it’s going to take away from the city,” said Third Ward resident Wesley Clark at a previous city council meeting.
Tuesday’s zoning meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. If the plans are approved, the field house could take up to two years to construct.