CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
After years of strike outs, the Charlotte Knights are just days away from a major step to bring baseball to Uptown.
They will break ground on a new baseball stadium on South Mint Street on Friday.
The area is near the historic French Quarter, a side of uptown that's felt a little neglected since the construction of Time Warner Cable Arena and EpiCentre.
Angelo Tsepelis works at The French Quarter Restaurant. "The majority of the people are on that side with concerts, so we're looking forward to having a good crowd on this side," he says.
Tsepelis says even during the DNC, businesses here didn't do great. "Everything was focused on that side of town. With the arena and CNN – everybody was just kept on that side of town."
Jennifer Kerilko, General Manager Valhalla, says that's why it feels so good to know construction will start soon. "I think it's exciting," she says. "I can't wait for all of this stuff to be finished. You know, the park and the stadium. It's going to be good for business. And it'll just be nicer to look at than a big empty dirt pad."
The final nod for the Knights did not come quickly in Charlotte. There were questions about cost, and need. Some wondered if we could get a major league team, and landing the DNC only compounded the question.
"Down the line, I hope it doesn't come down to you know what, it's time to build a major league team down here," Tsepelis says.
Kerilko's just glad that change is in sight.
"I'm definitely excited about having games there," she says. "We're a block away. More people in the area is obviously going to be better for business."
