The evolution of Bank of America Stadium

State of play: Both teams will continue to play at the stadium throughout the renovations.

By the numbers: $650 million for the project will come from the city's hospitality and tourism tax. These funds must be used on projects that generate tourism dollars.

• TSE will cover $150 million and any overflow costs.

What we're watching: The Panthers' new practice facility behind the stadium is expected to open in 2027. And next to the stadium, TSE is working with Live Nation on a new 4,400-seat indoor performance venue, which is scheduled to open by 2029.

Here's a timeline of the stadium from when the site was selected in the 1980s to renovation plans through 2030:

Dec. 15, 1989: Richardson Sports, led by former NFL player and businessman Jerry Richardson, selected the current Uptown site for the stadium. Other contenders were South Carolina, Gastonia and Cabarrus County.

• Good Samaritan Hospital occupied the site from the late 19th century through much of the 20th. It was built to serve Charlotte's Black community. In, 1961, the city acquired the hospital and its land. Good Samaritan Hospital was renamed Charlotte Community Hospital. It became Magnolia's Rest Home in the 1980s and was demolished in the 1990s.

Oct. 26, 1993: Charlotte was awarded an NFL expansion franchise.

March 3, 1994: Construction on the stadium began. The Panthers played at Clemson during their inaugural season.

Aug. 3, 1996: The 72,684-seat stadium opened with a preseason game between the Panthers and the Chicago Bears.

• Ericsson Stadium, as it was originally called, was designed to be the model for the next millennium, the Observer reported at the time. "It had to be better than OK. It had to be sensational," local architect David Wagner said.
• The stadium cost $187 million, and it was mostly privately financed by personal seat licenses. Taxpayers chipped in $56.4 million, the Observer reported.

Sept. 26–29, 1996: Billy Graham, a renowned evangelist and Charlotte native, held his "Carolinas Crusade" at the stadium, drawing 300,000 people.

Jan. 5, 1997: In their first playoff game, the Panthers beat the Dallas Cowboys 26-17 at Ericsson Stadium.

Oct. 10, 1997: The Rolling Stones performed the first concert at the stadium, drawing 50,000 fans.

April 29, 1999: The U.S. Women's National team played Japan in the first soccer game at the stadium. The USWNT went on to win the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. TSE hopes to host the 2031 Women's World Cup.

Jan. 3, 2004: The Panthers beat the Cowboys 29-10 on their march to the Super Bowl that season.

Jan. 16, 2004: Bank of America secured the naming rights to the stadium.

Jan. 24, 2016: The Panthers beat the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 in the NFC Championship in Uptown, punching their ticket to the Super Bowl.

March 5, 2022: Charlotte FC played its inaugural home match in front of 74,479 fans.

June 24, 2024: Charlotte City Council approved funding for stadium renovations.

July 29, 2026: Bank of America Stadium will host the MLS All-Star Game.

2027: Phase 1 of stadium renovations will see the replacement of the 500-level seats.

• This phase will also include expanding the West End, upgrading this area's concourse bathrooms, concessions, club seats and suites, plus constructing much of the upper-level standing-room patio.
• The inside and outside of the North Gate will be upgraded.

2028–2029: Panthers team spaces, such as the locker room, will get a facelift in Phase 2.

• The North side concourse, along with bathrooms, concessions, clubs and suites in this section of the stadium, will be upgraded. New premium seating areas will be added.
• The social patio will be completed.
• The 300-level seats will be replaced.
• Audio in the bowl will be upgraded, along with the west side scoreboard and bowl ribbon boards.

2029–2030: The third and final phase will feature fresh seats for the 100-level, an expanded southeast section of the stadium, and a new scoreboard on the east side.

• The east and south side concourses will also have renovated concourses, restrooms, clubs and suites.

The bottom line: Since David Tepper purchased the team in 2018, he's prioritized hosting more than just football at the stadium — which is why we're seeing concerts from stars like Beyoncé and Kenny Chesney, plus Savannah Bananas games and Charlotte FC matches.

• Stadium renovations, TSE executives say, position the facility to host other world-class events down the line.