Bank of America Stadium renovation plans don’t include a dome. Here’s why
The newly unveiled billion-plus-dollar effort to renovate Bank of America Stadium encompassed so many features — from a social patio on the 500 level, to reimagined social clubs, to an exterior that adds a blue glimmer to the Charlotte skyline.
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But to a not-insignificant number of people, there was one thing missing.
A dome, or retractable roof, over the venue.
At an event on Thursday night — one that punctuated an exciting day for Tepper Sports and Entertainment — the company’s CEO Kristi Coleman said she heard those comments, specifically, in response to TSE’s detailed reveal of the $1.3 billion project.
And she had an answer at the ready.
“Charlotte has such wonderful weather, and we’ve said that from the beginning, when the questions were, ‘Will you have a dome or will you not have a dome?’” Coleman said. “And I read a lot of the comments (Thursday), and a lot of the comments were like, ‘Oh, this is great!’”
She added: “A lot of stadiums now have domes. So we have something different to offer, and I think that makes us unique and (we can) stand out. And I think that’s great.”
Bank of America Stadium is home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and the MLS’s Charlotte FC, both of which are owned by billionaire hedge fund manager David Tepper. The city of Charlotte is contributing $650 million to the stadium’s renovation, which will be complete in 2030. TSE is also contributing $650 million — up from $150 million that it committed in June 2024 — to make the approximate total $1.3 billion.
The dome could be an asset when attracting certain events to Charlotte. Maybe an NCAA Final Four, which last came to Charlotte in 1994.
But many events aren’t dependent on a massive, 75,000-capacity stadium having indoor and outdoor capabilities, Coleman said. That’s true insofar as many other events Bank of America Stadium has compelled as of late — including the MLS All-Star Game, which will take place at the uptown venue next week.
In fact, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated at the same event in Charlotte on Thursday night that a dome isn’t what’s standing in the way of Queen City hosting a Super Bowl.
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“There is no question that if the city keeps growing the way it is — the stadium and facility here are wonderful and are certainly Super Bowl quality,” Goodell said. “The real issue with Super Bowls now is number of hotel rooms and other facilities. And every time I come back here, it’s completely different than when I left it the last time.
“So I think if that growth continues, I think that’s probably somewhere down the line.”
Super Bowl sites have been locked in through 2030. The next four stadiums are either domed stadiums or are open-air but have a roof (SoFi Stadium).
Constructing a roof would be costly, too — adding onto an already expensive project. How costly? According to one estimate, via reporting by The Charlotte Observer in June 2024: $500 to $600 million worth.
Coleman said she is confident that this vision for Bank of America Stadium will continue making Charlotte a “weekend destination.”
“Everything in Charlotte is growing, the region,” Coleman said. “And we are such a catalyst for that. And we’re so excited for these stadium renovations, the music venue, the Atrium Health Training Facility. It’s all going to be amazing, and we’re so thrilled.”
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