No doubt you’ve already heard that the Charlotte Knights and York County have finally reach a deal that will keep the team at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill for the next four years. I’m very happy about it – my kids love going to those games, and having the stadium in Charlotte insures cheap entertainment for me during the spring and summer months.

One of the major terms that York County asked for in signing the new deal was that funds be set aside for improvements to the surrounding property. The new lease requires the Knights commit up to $150,000 annually from parking revenues for improvements in and around the Stadium. The county will also be contributing a share of the parking revenues for those improvements.

The Knights have a loyal following in Fort Mill – for five straight years they have had increasing attendance (allowing beer sales on Sundays this past season definitely helped). It’s a long way off, but the first home game of the 2010 season will be April 15, and I have a feeling that it’s going to have a good crowd there to cheer on the Knights, which are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

This Friday, August 14, New Life 91.9 FM radio is hosting “Faith Night” at the Knights game at Knights Stadium. The game against the Norfolk Tides starts at 7:15 p.m., and after the game all attendees will be treated to a concert by NEEDTOBREATHE, who, judging by the clips on their website, are a pretty good band.

For information and ticket details, you are welcome to contact the Charlotte Knights at 704-36-HOMER (704-364-6637).

The Knights are already a couple games into the season, with high hopes of it being their best yet (as attendance has been steadily increasing in recent seasons). Now, Sunday afternoon games are sure to be more popular than ever since beer is now on sale at Knights Stadium on Sundays.

I certainly know Mr. ScoopMill is more likely to check out the weekend games if he knows he can buy beer even on Sunday afternoons. There’s one additional attendee right there!

Are you planning a trek to see the Knights play? Do you go every year, or will you be going this year because it may be their last season in Fort Mill?

photo credit: allygirl520

Thursday is the start of the Charlotte Knights season, and it is possibly the LAST season they’ll play in Fort Mill. I predict, in answer to one of the questions asked by The Herald, that attendance WILL be up, as people take advantage of what might be the last year minor league baseball is so readily available to see in person!

The battle continues in Charlotte over whether the Knights should get their own stadium. Some want to hold out for a major league team, others disagree with the placement of the projected new stadium. Regardless, the debate now begins in Fort Mill about what to do with Knights Stadium once it goes dark:

…leaders asked residents to submit ideas for the site.

Among the suggestions were an animal shelter, a football stadium, a shopping mall, a sports training facility and a big development that incorporates retail, sports, office space, homes, hotels and entertainment.

Do you have any ideas? That’s a lot of great land over there – and I have to admit I’d love to have a large shopping mall (with movie theaters, please!) in town rather than having to drive to Pineville or Rock Hill.

It’s April, which means it’s time to start getting your tickets for this year’s Charlotte Knights season. The season begins at home on April 9, during which the Knights play the Gwinnett Braves.

Tickets are available now. If you are up for some fireworks, they have assigned Saturday, April 11 as the first fireworks night of the season.

For two days only, Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31, Cole Bros. Circus will be in the parking lot at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill performing two shows each day – 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. But this isn’t just any circus – this one is helping to raise money for both Girls on the Run and the Fort Mill District Band Booster programs.

Tickets are $12 in advance (with the added bonus of two free kids admissions with every adult ticket purchased) and are available at the Fort Mill BI-LO this week. You can also opt to upgrade your ticket at a modest additional cost for VIP or reserved seats.

The show is only here for two days – so it is sure to sell out! Get your tickets early and enjoy the show!

This year New Life 91.9 FM and Charlotte Dentistry are bringing Natalie Grant, Matthew West and PureNRG to perform at their annual “Faith, Family and Freedom” concert at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill. The event will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2009 and includes a fireworks show in addition to the concert.

In addition to the concert, the event hopes to do some good by receiving donations of school supplies for needy children in partnership with Operation Hand-up. School supplies such as book bags, crayons, markers and composition books are in great demand for children in need, and concert-goers are encouraged to bring one (or more) with you to the Faith, Family and Freedom show to help out this worthy charity.

All seats for the concert are $10 (children 3 and under are free) and tickets are on sale now. Tailgate starts at 4 p.m., gates open at 5 p.m. Visit New Life 91.9 FM for more information.