(12-18-2017 12:26 PM)ericsaid Wrote: One would think that with the growth being experienced in and along the 85 corridor, the team will not be moved anywhere. Maybe 15 or 20 years ago there is consideration, but the Panthers fill an East coast gap between the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions.
If they move....the NFL is dead to me
The Panthers have ranked in the top 10 in attendance every year since 1996 when they began playing in their own stadium in Charlotte, as their debut season in 1995 was played in Clemson. Also the NFC South is regarded as one of the best divisions in pro football with this nugget:
The NFC South is the only division since the 2002 realignment when the NFC South was formed, to have each of its teams make the NFC championship game appearance as well as a Super Bowl appearance: Tampa Bay (2002), Atlanta (2004, 2012, and 2016), Carolina (2003, 2005 and 2015), and New Orleans (2006 and 2009). Also since 2002, each team has won at least three division titles, the only such division in the league.
The NFL is not going to screw this up, thus the Panthers are not going anywhere!
I would look for the new owner to potentially come from one of Charlotte's deep pockets.
Burton Smith - Owner of Speedway Motorsports (Charlotte, Atlanta, and Texas tracks to name a few)
Rick Hendrick - Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group
Johnny Harris - Property Developer - Quail Hollow Golf Club, Ballantyne, etc.