Charlotte amends lease with Panthers that allows concert venue adjacent to Bank of America Stadium

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WJZY) — An indoor performance venue is officially coming to the grounds of Bank of America Stadium.

Charlotte City Council approved the lease amendments with Tepper Sports and Entertainment at Monday night’s business meeting. It updates the lease that was created when the large-scale renovations to the home of Panthers were approved in June 2024. 

Unlike the billion-dollar stadium renovations, the 4,400-seat venue will not utilize public funds. 

It will be located on a 2-acre plot on the Graham Street side of the stadium, and will be home to music concerts and special events. 

“This is probably the most exciting news of the night,” said Councilman Malcolm Graham, touting the benefits to the city’s service industry. “Travel and entertainment continues to be a part of the fabric of the city, and certainly in Uptown. It brings heads and beds, people who work in travel and tourism, 8,200 more opportunities to make a living.” 

The 2024 lease keeps the Panthers in town for another 20 years. If the team were to cease operations in Charlotte, the annex venue would still be allowed to operate under a new 20-year lease, which would include TSE being responsible for:  

• Paying the city an annual rent of $500,000 for use of the venue land;
• Providing the city five use days per year.

Councilmember Dimple Ajmera was excited to bring more cultural opportunities to the city. The project fills the need for a mid-size venue in the center city; The Fillmore holds 1,700 people, Amos’ South End 700 and The Visulite, while Spectrum Center can hold 18,000.

“As a mom, I want my daughter to grow up in a city that’s full of opportunities, that values culture and music,” she said. “This performance venue helps fill that gap, it really creates space to celebrate culture and music — without public dollars. Please bring more of this, I want to thank Tepper Sports and Entertainment for investing in this venue.” 

In addition to the concert venue, the lease amendment also ties the new Panthers practice facility and field house into the 20-year non-relocation term. 

Graham is hopeful the venue size will attract jazz artists like Bob James. 

“This is a good news story that improves our relationship forward with Tepper Sports and the Carolina Panthers,” he said. “This is an icing on the cake.”