Panthers Pause $800M Project Over Payment Dispute

Construction on the Carolina Panthers’ new $800 million facility project has been paused — allegedly because the city of Rock Hill, South Carolina, is behind on its bills, according to Tepper Sports and Entertainment. 

• GT Real Estate Holdings invested more than $170 million in the project so far, according to a Tepper Sports and Entertainment statement.
• But “our partners have been unable to contribute the agreed-upon investment to fund the construction of the public infrastructure.” 
• Rock Hill owes $225 million in infrastructure loans, according to WLTX 19 in Columbia.
• The company will continue to pay workers for a week after the pause’s official date, according to The Charlotte Observer.

The town’s city manager, however, told the Observer that the city has “met all financial obligations.”

A Wave of Complications

In July 2020, construction began on the shiny new facility, which is slated to include not only new team headquarters but practice fields, too. 

It was supposed to open in August 2022 and has been stalled not only by funding issues, but also pandemic-related delays.

The Observer reported that it was rescheduled to open in 2023, but it’s unclear when construction will continue.