The Carolina Panthers have been established in North Carolina since October 26, 1993. Since then, they have represented both North and South Carolina as a whole, although their facilities were exclusively in North Carolina. Now they have closed the gap by establishing a practice facility and headquarters here in Rock Hill, SC. This new establishment will create many job opportunities and multimillion dollar investments for the surrounding area. It should also increase scouting in the area for student football players who would like to go professional.
Rock Hill and its Panthers fans came out to welcome and be a part of the special moment when the new practice facility was announced. Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys was one of the first to welcome the Panthers, telling Panthers owner David Tepper, “Welcome to Rock Hill, we’re glad to have you”, according to The Herald. Tepper told fans that by bringing people “down to this region,” it would create a “sense of excellence not only up there for the football team, but everything we do here in Rock Hill.”
The more than 200 acre property is set along I-77 between Cherry Road and Dave Lyle Boulevard. The practice facility is set to receive $115 million worth of financial incentives, including tax breaks.
Rock Hill businessman and South Carolina State Representative Gary Simrill calls Rock Hill, Football City USA for the many different talents produced here. “Now we have the crowning jewel of being Football City USA because the Panthers are coming here. Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived,” Simrill said, according to The Herald.
People seem very excited for the new ‘mantra of success’ making its way to Rock Hill, SC. And it’s not just politicians. Students here at Winthrop are looking forward to the Panthers practice facility being near to campus. Kiana Todman, senior political science major stated, ”I’m pretty excited about it because it’s nice to see SC get to have a piece of the Panthers here, considering we share the team.” Sophomore early education major, Sydney Tisdale stated, “I think it’s a great way to bring Charlotte and Rock Hill together. With the two being so close to one another but in different states it can sometimes feel as if us Panther admirers aren’t a part of the community. Adding this establishment to the town of Rock Hill, in my opinion, will make us a part of the ‘Panther Pack’.” Biology major Seth Merritt said, “I think that it’s really cool and allows a chance for Winthrop students, residents of Rock Hill and nearby towns like Fort Mill to get a closer look into what the Panthers do when they aren’t playing a game.” Senior biology major Beneshia Wadlington said, “I think this new facility is very exciting for both Winthrop students and Panthers fans. It will definitely add more excitement to the area.”
Sneed Middle School teacher Sallie Folk stated, “the first year the Panthers played in the league they didn’t have a field to play on, so they played at Clemson University [our sister college].” Now the Carolina Panthers are returning some of their presence to South Carolina, this time near Winthrop University.
Be sure to check out the new facilities for the Carolina Panthers football team, now serving both North and South Carolina.
