CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On the surface, it appears Charlotte officials are doing little to keep the Panthers team headquarters and practice facilities in the Queen City. Meanwhile, South Carolina lawmakers are rushing at least two bills through the legislature to give David Tepper financial incentives to move south of the border.
Earlier this month, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said Tepper was looking at locating a new headquarters and state of the art training facility in either York or Lancaster County.
McMaster said the project could lure brand new restaurants, retail outlets and hotels to the area as well.
Asked what Charlotte officials were doing to stop the move, City Council member Tariq Bokhari said there are two issues in play.
“There is a practice facility and operations, and there is where they play their games on Sunday," Bokhari said. "I think most people in Charlotte would be more concerned about a conversation about where they play their games on Sunday than this."
A spokesperson for Mayor Vi Lyles said the Mayor had nothing more to add to her statement on the Panthers from earlier this month.
“We support their two states, one team orientation," Lyles had said. "What’s good for our region is good for all of us.”
Another Councilmember told NBC Charlotte’s Rad Berky that there had been some discussions between the Mayor and the Governor’s office in Raleigh, but the member did not have details of what those discussions entailed.
Work has started to put a temporary dome over the Panthers’ current practice field behind the stadium.
Bokhari said the city might actually benefit if that land was used for something else.
"When you look at that land…for real estate, for hot real estate in uptown, I don’t know that a practice facility is at the top of the list," he said.
Governor Cooper's office did not respond to a request for comment.
