Venue Detail
Charlotte Knights
RSV Pro Facilities Report
February, 2016
Charlotte Knights
PO Box 1207 Fort Mill, SC 29716 Phone: 803-548-8050 Fax: 803-548-8055 URL: www.aaaknights.com Owner: Don Beaver League: International League, South
Venue
BB&T Ballpark, 3234 S Mint, Charlotte, NC 28202 Built: 2014 Capacity: 10,000 Concessionaire: Ovations Food Services Soft drink:
Naming rights
Sold to: BB&T Corp.
Ticket prices
Season tickets range from $475 to $545 Single tickets range from $7.00 to $14.00
Attendance
2013 average attendance: 3,803 2014 average attendance: 9,686
Suites
Quantity: 22 Term: 7 to 10 years Price: $15,000 to $50,000
Club seats
Quantity: 975 Term: 3 to 5 years Price: $1,512 to $2,900
Financing
The financing plan called for the Knights to receive $7.25 million from Mecklenburg’s hotel and motel occupancy tax, which is dedicated to tourism and can’t be spent on things such as roads, schools or police. In addition, Center City Partners, an uptown think tank/booster group, contributed $725,000. Both amounts will be paid over 20 years.
Mecklenburg County gave $8 million, and agreed to lease the team land for a $1 a year that has been valued at between $20 million and $24 million. The ballpark itself cost $54 million.
After six years of wrangling, the Charlotte City Council approved $8 million toward construction of a new uptown ballpark, a contribution the Knights said will make the Third Ward venue a reality. It opened in 2014.
The Knights played in Fort Mill, S.C., for more than 20 years, where the Chicago White Sox affiliate has drawn some of the smallest crowds in the International League.
The team had originally asked the city for $11 million, but a majority of council members felt that was too much money. City staff worked to come up with a plan that would get six council votes, and finally settled on a deal that would include no general fund revenue.
The ballpark features two dugout suites which include an all-you-can-eat buffet with soft drinks, bar service and private restrooms. Also with live in-game video board recognition, a visit from the Knights mascot Homer the Dragon, private merchandise shopping, and complimentary game day programs, the Dugout Suite Experience will create a lifetime memory. The suites hold 25 people each and can be combined. Pricing starts at $1,975 per suite or $3,950 for both suites. (Facilities, Baseball, Minor League, Professional Sports, Venue)