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CHARLOTTE – Minor league baseball is one step closer to returning to uptown Charlotte.

City council approved a plan Monday night to contribute $8 million over 20 years to the construction of a stadium for the Charlotte Knights.

Most of the money will come from the hotel-motel tax and $725,000 will come from Charlotte Center City Partners.

“I think everyone sees this is a good thing for the city,” Knights owner Don Beaver said. “I think it's going to be one of the greatest things to come to downtown."

Critics have called the proposed stadium a money pit.

According to an agreement with Mecklenburg County, the Knights must complete a financing plan by June 30 and begin construction by October in order to play in uptown by 2014.