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GREENSBORO The city rolled out the welcome mat for visitors from

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its big sister to the south Wednesday, as the Charlotte City Council took a brief tour of downtown Greensboro.

The tour was an afternoon getaway for the Charlotte council amidst the second day of its annual three-day retreat at the Grandover Resort, where officials have spent time discussing and planning for the year.

Charlotte officials wanted to hear about the successes of Center City Park and the Grasshoppers' NewBridge Bank Park as Charlotte begins construction of its new baseball stadium and park in the its uptown district.

The new stadium, approved mid-January by the Mecklenburg County commissioners, is planned to move the city's Triple-A baseball club the Charlotte Knights from nearby Fort Mill, S.C., by 2009.

"We are hoping to get a good feeling of how (Greensboro's) stadium has meshed with downtown and its ambience," Charlotte Councilwoman Nancy Carter said.

"You all have done such a great job," she said. "It's a great stadium it's very welcoming and I love the classic feel."

Jim Melvin, president of the Bryan Foundation and a former Greensboro mayor, and Grasshoppers President Donald Moore hosted the stadium tour. They talked about the park's private funding efforts and the Grasshoppers' success providing affordable family entertainment.

Since Charlotte officials won't have any say on the design of their new stadium, which is being privately funded, they spent much of the tour asking how Greensboro and the stadium worked together from construction issues to police coverage and parking at games.

Council members also took time to get acquainted with Greensboro's top dog Grasshoppers mascot Miss Babe Ruth.

"This is part of creating memories for a generation," Charlotte Councilman Andy Dulin said.

He said he hopes Charlotte can replicate the Grasshoppers' atmosphere.

"This is a wonderful facility for this city," he said.

"There is a generation of kids that this is what they are going to grow up knowing in their town, and that's what kids need."

Melvin said the visit was a compliment to Greensboro.

He said that the days of the two cities head-butting over issues such as the ACC headquarters should be put aside.

"You can't fault a city for trying to better itself," Melvin said.

"They made an offer to the ACC and that just spurs you along to make an offer better than theirs.''

"This stadium and other things we are doing are good by anybody's standards," Melvin said.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com