CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Wednesday afternoon, Charlotte leaders held a special meeting to discuss the deal with Tepper Sports to renovate the Bank of America stadium.
Several council members have questions regarding the drafted contract and how the city can protect itself in case anything goes wrong.
Some community members aren't on board with the renovations. Grace Fendrick started a petition on Change.org to give residents who oppose the renovations to voice their concerns.
“I really don’t think people aren’t going to games because the stadium isn’t cool enough," Fendrick told WCNC Charlotte's Myles Harris.
Renovations to the stadium include installing huge screens and gathering spaces around the perimeter outside. The city is looking to chalk up $650 million for the upgrades. The money comes from the city’s tourism and hospitality fund and will be spent between 2025 and 2029.
Fendrick doesn't believe the money should come from city funds.
“The actual stadium is owned by temper sports and entertainment, and so they should be held liable for doing whatever upgrades they deem as unnecessary or unwanted," she added.
RELATED: David Tepper, city of Charlotte share proposal for major upgrades at Bank of America Stadium
Tepper Sports says it has already spent $117 million on upgrades over the years. It will offer an additional $150 million for planned renovations and an estimated $420 million for ongoing operating and maintenance costs over the next 20 years.
Kieth Cockrell is the president of Bank of America Charlotte. During Wednesday's meeting, Cockrell said that the stadium is a place for all.
“I view Bank of American stadium as the community stadium," Cockrell said.
Some Charlotte leaders are also expressing reservations about Tepper Sport's transparency and commitment to the project.
"Those amounts aren't specified, and there's no commitment on their part to them," Charlotte City Councilman Ed Driggs explained about the operating and maintenance expenses. "So, we need to have more certainty about what work would be done."
Driggs said the city council wants clarification on what the exact maintenance costs will be. "We want to have a right to demand that they do it."
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The deal comes on the heels of David Tepper pulling out of the Panthers practice facility project in Rock Hill.
"He's made big investments in Charlotte, and we should appreciate that," Driggs said. "At the same time, there has been a lot of publicity about the Rock Hill situation, the breakdown with that relationship, and then his withdrawal from Eastland."
Some council members feel the deal is being rushed. Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera and several others are hoping to have a special public hearing on the deal at the upcoming city zoning meeting on June 17.
"I think this is a very important conversation that I think we need to take our time and get our questions addressed," Ajmera said during Monday's council meeting.
The public can submit feedback on the planned renovations at the bottom of the city's website linked here. Community members can also request to speak during city council's meeting on June 17 to voice their thoughts on the proposed plan.
The Charlotte City Council is set to vote on the stadium deal on June 24.
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