Are stadium upgrades a good use of taxpayer money? [Video]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte is ready for major renovations at two of its largest sports venues, but as the Queen City looks to welcome in a new era of entertainment for fans, there are questions about who’s paying for those upgrades. 

Back in the day, most stadiums were big, generic concrete structures that were built with taxpayer money. Longtime sports fans can easily think back to the days of so-called “multi-purpose” stadiums that hosted baseball and football teams together. These cookie cutter stadiums dominated the sports landscape for years, but that’s no longer the case. 

The Hornets are working on major renovations at the Spectrum Center and are promising economic growth in Uptown in exchange for about $60 million from the city. The plans include a redeveloped transportation center, complete with lots of new shops and restaurants. 

Meanwhile, talks continue about renovating Bank of America Stadium. Despite opening in 1996, there are just …