Carolina Panthers Rock Hill facility rendering courtesy of Tepper Sports and Entertainment
Legal action over the failed Carolina Panthers headquarters in Rock Hill came to a close today.
Driving the news: A federal judge approved the bankruptcy settlement this morning for team owner David Tepper’s real estate arm, GT Real Estate Holdings, LLC.
- Federal bankruptcy court judge Karen Owen called it a “momentous day,” and said a settlement benefits all involved parties, the Rock Hill Herald reported.
Details: The City of Rock Hill will receive the title to the site. GTRE will pay York County $21 million and contractors $60 million.
Why it matters: The proposed $800 million project was heralded as a catalyst for economic development for Rock Hill and York County. But the 245-acre unfinished property is now for sale., listed as the “Rock Hill Overlook.”
Flashback: The project broke ground with fanfare in July 2020, with the promise of entertainment, dining, residential, retail and medical facilities along with the team’s new HQ and practice facilities.
Here are a few notable moments in the legal fight:
1. March 7, 2022: GTRE pauses work on the project, claiming Rock Hill failed to properly fund their portion of the project, as Axios’ Katie Peralta Soloff reported.
2. April 19, 2022: TSE terminates its contract with the city of Rock Hill.
3. June 1, 2022: GTRE files for bankruptcy.
4. Dec. 16, 2022: A judge signed the settlement order.
What they’re saying: “From the outset, GTRE sought to ensure all legitimate claims were processed as fairly and quickly as possible and to achieve the project’s orderly and safe wind-down,” GTRE said in a statement. “We are pleased that the Court has approved our comprehensive plan of reorganization, which paves the way to resolve and satisfy GTRE’s creditor claims.”
- A Rock Hill representative did not respond to a request for comment.
