OT NFL Carolina owner under fire, announces he'll be selling

[LadyStanley]

Panthers’ Jerry Richardson may have saved NFL from prying into dirty laundry

By selling, sounds like the NFL won't be going through the dirty laundry scattered around.


Definite PR win if so

 

[Spartachat]

I hope they sell them to the Puff Daddy consortium.

 

[Tawnos]

So when is the Panthers lease up?
St. Louis
San Diego
Oklahoma City
Toronto?

Toronto is the only city you listed there that has much of anything over Charlotte, really. It won't be long before Charlotte metro is bigger than St Louis metro.

Charlotte isn't really a small city anymore. It's closer to a medium city. It will be a top-20 population metro by the next census. The population here is larger than several places with a larger reputation like Pittsburgh, Portland, Cleveland, KC.

 

[LeHab]

While Toronto could easily support an NFL team, not sure Rogers Stadium capacity at 54K would be enough. Maybe temp location before a real stadium is built.

 

[93LEAFS]

Toronto is the only city you listed there that has much of anything over Charlotte, really. It won't be long before Charlotte metro is bigger than St Louis metro.

Charlotte isn't really a small city anymore. It's closer to a medium city. It will be a top-20 population metro by the next census. The population here is larger than several places with a larger reputation like Pittsburgh, Portland, Cleveland, KC.

A big issue with Toronto is how does it fit in with the way America's national TV deal is structured. Unlike the MLB, NHL and NBA every NFL game is covered under a national deal. Toronto, while appealing for size and gate, really doesn't fit in well with this formula. London makes sense because it grows the game into Europe (although logistically, it is an absolute nightmare for scheduling).

Then there is the Buffalo issue, who may argue Toronto is their territory.

Realistically, I don't see Carolina moving. If Jacksonville was bought with limited interest in actually moving them, I don't see why Carolina would be different.

 

[Melrose Munch]

Toronto is the only city you listed there that has much of anything over Charlotte, really. It won't be long before Charlotte metro is bigger than St Louis metro.

Charlotte isn't really a small city anymore. It's closer to a medium city. It will be a top-20 population metro by the next census. The population here is larger than several places with a larger reputation like Pittsburgh, Portland, Cleveland, KC.

Fair enough.

A big issue with Toronto is how does it fit in with the way America's national TV deal is structured. Unlike the MLB, NHL and NBA every NFL game is covered under a national deal. Toronto, while appealing for size and gate, really doesn't fit in well with this formula. London makes sense because it grows the game into Europe (although logistically, it is an absolute nightmare for scheduling).

Then there is the Buffalo issue, who may argue Toronto is their territory.

Realistically, I don't see Carolina moving. If Jacksonville was bought with limited interest in actually moving them, I don't see why Carolina would be different.

Well, Jax`s lease was tough. I really don`t know how the TV would work for a Toronto team. But I don`t know how London would work for TV either.

 

[93LEAFS]

Fair enough.
Well, Jax`s lease was tough. I really don`t know how the TV would work for a Toronto team. But I don`t know how London would work for TV either.

My guess is they think London/Europe TV rights will dramatically improve with a constant day-time game there. Its the access to the UK plus Western and Central Europe covers almost 500 million people. Whereas I doubt a Toronto team dramatically improves Canadian tv rights. My guess is they see a potentially big pay off from an entity like Sky or BT Sport.

 

[Gumbo]

Charlotte is a pretty great market. It will soon be top 20 in population, has a high growth rate, and fills a big geographic void.

The team draws fans from both north and south Carolina, and they have sold out 257 straight games.

The stadium lease is an issue, but the market is solid. I'd be pretty surprised if they move.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

As mentioned Charlotte is a top-20 GMA in the US. I have also read that a significant portion of the 15 million people in the state ( plus some in South Carolina) support and watch the team on TV. I'm sure those within a reasonable driving distance attend some games.

The stadium has received some recent renovations and I'm sure further renovations should extend the life of the stadium another 15 - 25 years. No doubt the new owner will try to extract some concessions from the state/city/county to pay for those renos even though he should be more than capable of spending a few hundred million himself....according to Forbes the team's operating income is $100 million so there is no reason he cannot fund 100% of future renos.

 

[aqib]

I would love to see them come to Toronto, but I am not sure who would be the owner. You're talking $1.6-$1.8 billion US for the team and another $1.7-$2 billion for the stadium. I was hoping the Chargers would consider coming here. They were willing to go alone to LA and spend $1.7 billion on the stadium if the Raiders weren't allowed to go with them. However, in that case they already owned the team for 35 years. Now you're talking about someone having to buy the team at today's value AND then fully fund a stadium.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Why are we even talking relocation? The franchise isn't struggling in any way.

 

[powerstuck]

Why are we even talking relocation? The franchise isn't struggling in any way.

In case there is no local buyers. Example, there might be a guy willing to buy them but he would prefer have them in St-Louis instead of Carolina.

 

[tarheelhockey]

In case there is no local buyers. Example, there might be a guy willing to buy them but he would prefer have them in St-Louis instead of Carolina.

That just seems like kind of a pipe dream TBH. It's one thing if a franchise is struggling, or especially if they have a stadium issue. But it's pretty unlikely that someone just swoops in, buys a perfectly healthy franchise, and ships it off somewhere else on a lark. I doubt the NFL would be too pleased about that sort of thing, with no other context like a stadium dispute to justify it.

 

[Melrose Munch]

That just seems like kind of a pipe dream TBH. It's one thing if a franchise is struggling, or especially if they have a stadium issue. But it's pretty unlikely that someone just swoops in, buys a perfectly healthy franchise, and ships it off somewhere else on a lark. I doubt the NFL would be too pleased about that sort of thing, with no other context like a stadium dispute to justify it.

Stan Kroenke just did this to St. Louis.

 

[ponder719]

Stan Kroenke just did this to St. Louis.

Kroenke manufactured a stadium dispute first.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Kroenke manufactured a stadium dispute first.

Exactly. There was a context for moving the Rams, who were the league's 32nd most valuable team (jumping to #6 after relo) and had their stadium plan rejected by the city. Whereas the Panthers are #21, are growing revenue and popularity year-over-year, and have a stable stadium situation.

It's silly. This would be like if the Minnesota Wild ownership suddenly decided to sell and people started talking relocation. Makes no sense.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Exactly. There was a context for moving the Rams, who were the league's 32nd most valuable team (jumping to #6 after relo) and had their stadium plan rejected by the city. Whereas the Panthers are #21, are growing revenue and popularity year-over-year, and have a stable stadium situation.

It's silly. This would be like if the Minnesota Wild ownership suddenly decided to sell and people started talking relocation. Makes no sense.

C'mon THH - you know exactly why some are talking relocation...

 

[Melrose Munch]

C'mon THH - you know exactly why some are talking relocation...

Because it's down south, or because the owner is a bad person?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just to get back on track, here is sportsbusinessdaily speculating about a new stadium for the panthers...
Panthers' Next Owner Could Want New Stadium With Hopes Of Luring Big Events To Charlotte - paywall.

 

[powerstuck]

That just seems like kind of a pipe dream TBH. It's one thing if a franchise is struggling, or especially if they have a stadium issue. But it's pretty unlikely that someone just swoops in, buys a perfectly healthy franchise, and ships it off somewhere else on a lark. I doubt the NFL would be too pleased about that sort of thing, with no other context like a stadium dispute to justify it.

I agree and I don't think the Panthers will move, but some people don't care if a team is doing well or not.

Lets just use hockey as exemple. If Quebecor was to buy any NHL team, their interest would be to have that team end up in Quebec City where they have an arena for it.

Same thing for Lewieke, he wouldn't buy an NHL team to keep it where it is when he has a deal and an arena for him in Seattle.

So, like I said, I don't think Panthers will move, but we have no idea who will buy them, and relocation questions honestly are linked to the buyer.

Speaking of which...does NFL has a rule like NHL does ? NHL, when a new buyer acquires a team, unless it's part of the original transaction (like TSNE buying Thrashers) the league includes a 7 year no relocation clause. If NFL has the same rule, they could ''force'' the buyer to stay in Carolina for at least a given number of years.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

I agree and I don't think the Panthers will move, but some people don't care if a team is doing well or not.

Lets just use hockey as exemple. If Quebecor was to buy any NHL team, their interest would be to have that team end up in Quebec City where they have an arena for it.

Same thing for Lewieke, he wouldn't buy an NHL team to keep it where it is when he has a deal and an arena for him in Seattle.

So, like I said, I don't think Panthers will move, but we have no idea who will buy them, and relocation questions honestly are linked to the buyer.

Speaking of which...does NFL has a rule like NHL does ? NHL, when a new buyer acquires a team, unless it's part of the original transaction (like TSNE buying Thrashers) the league includes a 7 year no relocation clause. If NFL has the same rule, they could ''force'' the buyer to stay in Carolina for at least a given number of years.

Leiweke has been an owner per se, the LA Kings RING BELLS, powerstuck

 

[Brodie]

In case there is no local buyers. Example, there might be a guy willing to buy them but he would prefer have them in St-Louis instead of Carolina.

This isn't how the NFL works. Roughly a third of the current owners in the leagues (or their parents who bought the team) have no ties to the area the team is located in. More than one of them actually moved to be closer to the team instead of vice vera (Haslem, Khan, etc.).

 

[93LEAFS]

This isn't how the NFL works. Roughly a third of the current owners in the leagues (or their parents who bought the team) have no ties to the area the team is located in. More than one of them actually moved to be closer to the team instead of vice vera (Haslem, Khan, etc.).

Yeah, the way the NFL is structured it is almost impossible to justify moving a team outside of a stadium dispute. You could put an NFL team almost anywhere in the continental United States and sell out 8 games a year. People will drive in and tailgate. Some markets are more desirable than others due to corporate money etc. But, since the NFL has no local TV deals for games, you don't gain massively by moving to a bigger market in TV revenue.

The funny thing I find about the Kroenke example in this case. He was damn close to a local buyer in the St. Louis case. He's from Missouri (a big University of Missouri booster), and a sizable portion of his wealth comes from being married to a rich heiress from Arkansas. He probably moved the team away from where his base was.

Hell, these people are Billionaires. If they wanted to buy local, half of them would probably be trying to buy the Dolphins due to living in West Palm Beach a third of the year.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Felix Sabates, part owner of CGR'S NASCAR efforts, and a minority owner in the Hornets, among other things considering bid to buy the Panthers....

 

[gstommylee]

THe NFL can dicate that any buying team has to keep team in the current location similar to what NHL did with the Hurricanes.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Not sure NFL is in the mood for moving teams around after 3 teams has moved or announced moving in 5 years.