Sports & Recreation

What happens to land if Knights leave Fort Mill?

Submitted by Trent Faris, Reporter/Photographer

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012, 6:00pm

FORT MILL, SC (WBTV) - Where the Charlotte Knights call home now is a prime piece of real estate in Fort Mill and York County owns it. So when or if the Knights leave the County already is looking into the possibilities for the land.

The push is on to bring the Charlotte Knights to Charlotte. The idea has been debated for years, but now the minor league baseball team may actually be close to making the move.

Monday, BB&T signed on to be the naming-rights sponsor for the stadium if they do come to the Queen City. Now they're just waiting for final funding approval from Charlotte to make it official.

For 20 years the Charlotte Knights have called Fort Mill South Carolina home, a home that York County owns.

"It's a valuable piece of property once it's turned over to the county," said Mark Farris, Economic Development Director for York County.

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City leaders not sold on bringing baseball to uptown

Submitted by Brigida Mack

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012, 8:35am

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The proposed Charlotte Knights Stadium may have a name but city leaders still aren't sold on bringing baseball to Center City.

It makes you wonder if the coming soon sign marking the spot at the corner of South Mint and Third Streets isn't a little bit premature.

The project's $54 million dollar price tag means the city would have to kick in $8.5 million dollars to make that happen.

And that isn't sitting well with some city leaders.

"Do they have the money on the table," is the questioned Claire Fallon, an at-large member, fired at Ron Kimble, the deputy city manager as he made the presentation Monday night. "Can they right a check for it?"

Michael Barnes, who represents District 4 has been a vocal opponent of the proposal from the beginning.

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Officials lower funding recommendation to move Knights uptown

Submitted by Nick Needham on Thursday, April 19th, 12:41 pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -- The Charlotte Economic Development Council Committee voted 4-1 Thursday morning to lower the amount of city funding requested to move the city's baseball team uptown.

The committee recommended giving the minor league Charlotte Knights $8.5 million over 20 years, down from the $9 million over 10 years the city proposed earlier this month.

The Knights had wanted $11 million from the city. The county has already pledged $8 million to help with the move.

The recommendation will now go to Charlotte City Council for discussion and a full vote.

The team, currently located in Fort Mill, want to be uptown in time for the 2014 season.

The revised plan presented to the committee says the team will receive $2.5 million in property taxes off of the stadium site, down from $4.5 million in an earlier proposal.

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Take me out to the ball game; Knights host opener tonight!

Submitted by Chris Dyches

Thursday, April 5th, 2012, 11:32am

Take me out to the ball game; Knights host opener tonight!

FORT MILL - The Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, will kick-off the 2012 season tonight and with that have announced their 2012 Opening Day roster.

New manager Joel Skinner’s club features two of the White Sox Top 10 prospects, as rated by Baseball America, seven players from Chicago’s 40-man roster and 13 returning players from the 2011 Knights team.

Leading the way for the Knights is a trio of veteran sluggers including outfielder Conor Jackson, infielder Dan Johnson and infielder Dallas McPherson.

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Charlotte Knights, city council talk money for uptown baseball

Submitted by Steve Crump

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012, 7:36pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - New numbers are in regarding how much the City of Charlotte might pay to move the Charlotte Knights uptown.

City council's economic committee is proposing $9 million, but the Knights wanted $11 Million to help pay for a new ball park to be built in Third Ward.

The current price tag for a new stadium is in the range of $54 Million.

The city of Charlotte is expected to pony up $9 Million that will come from property taxes, and the Knight's will be responsible for financing $41 Million; Mecklenburg County is also offering $8 million.

Charlotte Knights owner Don Beaver was on the front row when the pitch for dollars went public.

"It seems like a lot risk and we know what we're doing in the project," he said. "And we've got our numbers together."

Several council members worry about the issue of timing.

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Charlotte Knights Season Opener

Submitted by Susan H.

Friday, March 30th, 2012, 4:06pm

FORT MILL, SC (WBTV) - Join the Charlotte Knights as they open the 2012 season against Norfolk. This game will be the first of three military appreciation games played this year.

Event Details
Date: Thursday, April 5th
Time: 7:15pm
Tickets: $9 to $15
Venue: Knights Stadium
Address: 2280 Deerfield Dr., Fort Mill

Need more information? Please click HERE or call 704.357.8071.

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Checkers hold Wheels for Forest fundraiser

Submitted by Chris Dyches

Friday, March 30th, 2012, 4:02pm

CHARLOTTE - Hey Checkers fans - the team is getting behind another great cause and this is your chance to help out another very deserving family.

Do yourself a favor - take the three minutes to watch the video attached above.

The Checkers will be holding a special “Wheels for Forest” fundraiser prior to their April 7 game (12 p.m.) to benefit Hickory Ridge High School student Forest Walton, who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a progressive disease which eventually affects all voluntary muscles and involves the heart and breathing muscles in later stages. Forest was diagnosed at birth and was able to walk, run and play until he was 12, but, due to the progressive nature of the disease, is now confined to a wheelchair.

Forest’s mother transports him in a wheelchair-accessible van, which is currently deteriorating, and his classmates have formed “Wheels for Forest” to help him get new means of transportation.