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Charlotte football has raised nearly $3.3 million

With a month remaining before a self-imposed Oct. 15 deadline, the Charlotte 49ers have raised nearly $3.3 million toward a $5 million goal to start a football program in time for the 2013 season.

As of late Tuesday, 2,560 football seat licenses have been sold – an increase of 810 since the start of an aggressive marketing campaign on July 13. With the cost of FSLs ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 each, that translates into $3.248 million.

The original recommendation by the school's chancellor, Dr. Philip Dubois, to the board of trustees called for the sale of 5,000 FSLs at $1,000 apiece to raise $5 million in start-up funds.

Momentum appears to be building as the deadline approaches as 150 FSLs have been sold since last Thursday, school officials said.

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Currently, the only way non-students can be guaranteed a seat at a Charlotte football game is through the purchase of an FSL. Little if any general admission public seating is anticipated.

http://gmine.blogspot.com/2009/09/charl ... ly-33.html

New idea pitched for Charlotte 49ers football home

UNC Charlotte Chancellor Phil Dubois outlined a new option today for building a temporary football stadium on the campus that would put the facility on the same site where a larger, permanent stadium would be located instead of a nearby intramural field.

Dubois presented the option as part of an update to university trustees on progress towards the possible football program, which the school hopes to field by the 2013 season.

Earlier plans called for building a temporary 15,000-seat stadium based around the current Belk Track & Field complex. A permanent, 40,000-seat stadium then would be built on fields behind the school's Charlotte Research Institute.

But a team of architects from Jenkins-Peer out of Charlotte and the DLR Group out of Overland Park, Kan., recently proposed building the temporary and permanent facilities on the same location, in part to help eliminate some of the renovations needed at the Belk complex. Also, Dubois said the team felt the proposed spot for the temporary stadium would be too cramped.

The new option would push the start-up costs for the stadium to about $23.54 million, an increase from $18.56 million. Dubois cautioned the pricetag could increase by $1-2 million because of inflation.

Trustees did not take a vote on the new proposal, though several members voiced their support for the plan. “I'd rather spend a little more money now to save a lot of money down the road,” said trustee Gene Johnson.

Dubois is expected to recommend to the board in December whether to proceed with building the football stadium in time to field a team in 2013, or push back the date of the first season.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/topsto ... 53774.html

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:charlotte confuses the hell out of me...

if they are going FBS why bother with the foreplay of a little stadium on campus, just work it out with the panthers (who i'm sure would like the rent on BoA)

Mountaineer wrote:No way Charlotte goes I-A raising a paltry 3 million dollars. They're in for some serious sticker shock as it relates to running a football program.

Part of the seating in Memorial Stadium collapsed earlier this year. Honestly, I don't think most people in Charlotte care about the 49ers and playing in a stadium off campus will ensure no one shows up to the games.

Jerry Richardson will never let another team play in Bank of America.