“I’AM LEAVING” Bryce Young has announced that he is leaving the Carolina Panthers today due to…..READ MORE
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen says his team has the “worst facilities in the NFL” ahead of a planned $800 million overhaul of Bank of America Stadium.
“I think they’re behind a little bit as far as facilities,”.
Thielen told reporters on a Monday Zoom call, per Alex Zietlow of the Charlotte Observer.
“We probably have the worst facilities in the NFL right now, and I don’t think there is anybody who would argue that.
But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. You gotta go play football, and you gotta go win games.
“It’s nice to hear that, the commitment to us as players and the coaching staff.
‘Hey, you guys are putting the work in, and we’re going to commit and provide you guys with better facilities and really give you the resources to go out there and win.’ So it’s exciting.”
The Charlotte Observer reported that the proposed plan would be funded by $150 million from Tepper Sports & Entertainment, the group that owns the Panthers, as well as $650 million in taxpayer funds.
The public contribution would come from existing hospitality and tourism taxes, according to the Panthers.
Thielen said he understood why the Panthers’ renovations had been delayed after the team’s plan to build a new practice facility in Rock Hill, a 30-minute drive from Charlotte, fell apart over financial disputes in 2022.
“I think they had plans in Rock Hill to build that facility, and then when that kind of fell through, they had to re-game-plan and figure it out,” Thielen said, per Zietlow.
“So again, it’s exciting to hear that they’re going to invest in the players and the organization, the staff.
And I think everyone’s just excited to see that follow through, and to get those resources to be at our best.”
The Charlotte City Council said it will discuss allocating the funds to the stadium renovation, as well as signing a 20-year non-relocation agreement with the Panthers and Charlotte FC, during a council meeting on June 24.
