Here’s who readers blame in failed Panthers deal, and what they say should happen
The Rock Hill Herald’s readers split their blame equally between the team and the city for the Carolina Panthers headquarters fallout, but largely agree they still want a deal.
An online reader poll last week asked readers two questions in response to news that the team had terminated its construction contract with the City of Rock Hill for a planned facility off I-77. Whose fault is the Panthers contract breakdown, and what should the city do next?
By mid-morning Monday, more than 1,500 responses to the first question shared blame between the city and team. A single vote separated readers who blame the Panthers for unwillingness to work with the city (39%; 594 votes) and Rock Hill for not providing upfront funding (39%; 593 votes). Another 22% of voters, or 331, voted the sides are equally at fault.
As to what the city should do next, opinion was clearer.
Of almost 1,400 votes, 69% want the city and NFL team to continue work toward a new headquarters and practice facility in Rock Hill. About 31% of responses favored a punt by the city, and pursuit of something new at the unfinished construction site.
Poll results weren’t broken down by location of respondents. In addition to the Herald readership area, the poll was shared across the Carolinas including the Charlotte and Columbia areas.
The Panthers, city, state and York County began work on the headquarters project prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The vision was that alongside practice and team management facilities would be entertainment, hotel, medical and other attractions in a project estimated to generate billions of dollars in new revenue.
Problems arose related to $225 million in public infrastructure funding, including how and when the city would finance it, or whether the city would guarantee it. The city says it met all financial obligations in its deal with the team. The team real estate arm, through released statements, said the city failed to issue bonds on time.
On April 19, a month after the team announced a halt to construction at the project site, another statement announced the team would terminate its contract with the city.
A Charlotte Observer column last week likened the recent Panthers announcement to an obituary for a development project that now won’t happen. Gov. Henry McMaster, in Fort Mill for an event Thursday afternoon, said he wasn’t certain what would happen but expressed disappointment that the project in Rock Hill may well not happen.
Rock Hill issued its own statement in response to the team last week about the terminated contract. The city expressed disappointment in recent events but also a willingness to continue negotiation with the team. The city comment noted it will be the last public statement in response to the contract termination statement from the Panthers.
This story was originally published April 25, 2022 at 11:44 AM with the headline "Here’s who readers blame in failed Panthers deal, and what they say should happen."
