Panthers Fan Starts Petition to Keep Stadium in Uptown
CHARLOTTE, NC – With Panthers ownership up in the air, one fan has started a petition to keep the cats in Uptown. She hopes to convince whoever buys the team.. not to move.
“Part of the whole Panthers experience is being Uptown, the stadium being Uptown,” explains West Charlotte resident Inezmarie Garci.
Graci bought her home in the Wilmore neighborhood two years ago so she could walk to Bank of America Stadium.
“There’s just an energy that’s indescribable,” she says.
Her Change.org petition is addressed to city and state leaders, including potential bidder Felix Sabates.
He told WCCB Charlotte anchor Morgan Fogarty a new domed stadium is a must, with more luxury suites and more land for parking.
Possible locations would include in the Fort Mill area or near the airport.
Graci, who’s from New York, says she’s been to Jets and Giants games at their stadium away from the city in New Jersey and doesn’t like the atmosphere there.
“Once you get there, it’s, I mean it’s just a parking lot. There’s no city skyline that you’re looking at. You’re just, you’re standing in a parking lot. It’s just not the same,” she says.
Right now, city leaders are still focused on making sure the team doesn’t leave the Carolinas all together.
“My opinion is that we shouldn’t be worried so much about the sale of the team, what we need to focus on is our support for the team,” says Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles.
