CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After months of speculation about whether Topgolf would build its next golf-entertainment complex in Charlotte, the company confirms it is months away from breaking ground in Steele Creek.
Company officials told reporter Jenna Deery exclusively Topgolf plans to break ground in February off West Arrowood Road near I-485.
"We needed a super-regional facility and by that I mean something with highway access and large trip counts," said development manager Ted Heilbron.
The popular attraction that combines a golf game with food and drinks has had success in comparable markets like Atlanta, Tampa and Austin.
Heilbron said the company has been looking at moving into Charlotte for two years.
Back in January, Channel 9 reported Charlotte city leaders were trying to entice Topgolf with millions of dollars in incentives to move into a rundown shopping center off Independence Boulevard, but real estate talks with the site hit a dead end.
Heilbron said Topgolf hasn't asked for or taken any tax dollars or breaks to build in Steele Creek because the company didn't need them and thought Charlotte had what the company is looking for.
"The young corporate demographic for us is one of our core demographics and its very well represented in Charlotte," said Heilbron.
Construction is expected to begin in February as long as City Council approves re-zoning the land.
The attraction will also mean 480 new jobs and a $30 million paycheck to Mecklenburg County in taxes over 20 years.
Heilbron said if all goes well, two Topgolfs could be in Charlotte's future.
The company has already been scouting out locations in North Charlotte, but a location hasn't been selected yet.
If all goes as planned with construction, Topgolf could be opened its first Charlotte location late next year.
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