The...South Carolina Panthers?

[Panthro]

3 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

The article doesn't actually specify Rock Hill, though the phrase "just across the border" might imply it, or Fort Mill

In a situation like that, it might be pitched as Charlotte, Fort Mill and Rock Hill all together in a cooperative effort.

I wonder how much space there is around the old Charlotte Knights stadium that could be developed.

Still seems unlikely to me, but ya never know.

I can't wait for Charlotte to work with those Podunk suburbs

[Mrs Pantherfan]

I think I might be the only one who absolutely HATES the idea of moving this team out of Charlotte.

[Panthera onca]

Just now, Mrs Pantherfan said:

I think I might be the only one who absolutely HATES the idea of moving this team out of Charlotte.

No, you can count me as one who hates the idea.

[joeyxfresco]

I’ve only been to Charlotte once for a game and I hate the idea as well. 

[Ricky Spanish]

Wifey and I both work in SC but live in South Charlotte. We planned on moving to SC after the new year because it's more affordable.

I better not have to fuging pay for a god damn stadium dammit. 

[Car123]

Fixing something that isn't broken.

[Mr. Scot]

14 minutes ago, Mrs Pantherfan said:

I think I might be the only one who absolutely HATES the idea of moving this team out of Charlotte.

I'd imagine there are loads of people who would hate it, as there would likely also be significant numbers of people who would love it. But when it gets right down to it, those opinions probably won't mean much in the decision-making process.

The team will make the decision based on where they feel they have their greatest advantage, and a number of factors will come into play on that front. Most of those factors will relate more to finances than fans. 

And let's be real: Even among the ones who do get pissed off about it, the vast majority may grumble and gripe but ultimately they'll still end up buying tickets. Those who don't, will probably be made up for to at least some extent by new buyers.

In the end, it just isn't likely to have a significant enough impact to affect the team's decision.

As I've said before, I still don't really believe this will happen. But it is realistically possible.

[Mr. Scot]

8 minutes ago, Cracka McNasty said:

Wifey and I both work in SC but live in South Charlotte. We planned on moving to SC after the new year because it's more affordable.

I think the reverse of that is far more common.

[Ricky Spanish]

14 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I think the reverse of that is far more common.

We know... But it started as jobs in NC, then I got a job in SC and hers was still in NC. Then she got one down in SC too. So now it just makes sense to make the jump and stop getting taxed out our ass... Unless the new stadium gets put in...

[Mr. Scot]

3 minutes ago, Cracka McNasty said:

We know... But it started as jobs in NC, then I got a job in SC and hers was still in NC. Then she got one down in SC too. So now it just makes sense to make the jump and stop getting taxed out our ass... Unless the new stadium gets put in...

Well, if the land ends up being what Bowles already owns, that cuts at least some of the cost off. And the NFL tends to pay for part, so there's that.

[DWill]

1 hour ago, Panthera onca said:

If they move to South Carolina, I'm out. PSLs will be sold and I will watch on the telly.

Same here. PSL owner since '95 and if the team moves out of uptown at all but especially down to our little brother state, the PSLs are gone. All the breweries, restaurants and bars around the stadium is the main reason I still have my PSLs today. If all that is taken away for the entertainment hotbed that is Fort Mill, it will be party time at home on Sundays. I know many many others that under no circumstances will spend the cash required to own PSLs if their Sundays would shift from uptown to South Carolina. The few PSLs owners across the boarder the team may pick up would not come close to making up for the loss in interest of current PSL owners. 

With that said, this ain't happening. 

[d-dave]

How much money is there locally in SC compared to Charlotte?  I imagine that Charlotte doesn't want to lose the Panthers, nor do the downtown businesses, or really anyone else in downtown.  Charlotte has it's own cards to play.

While there is the idea of "yeah, it's cheaper in SC," there's the other cost as well, as @DWill typed above.  Sure, let's say someone has the cash and resources to build a stadium right across the border in SC and doesn't change much.  Is there a local scene to grow around a new stadium?  Sure fans should go to tailgate and support the team, but there's a "vibe" around the city.

While I could see it happening, there's a lot of obstacles and work to be done.  I don't think moving to SC a few miles away would be the better move.

[jasonluckydog]

I love the idea of the team in both states like Carowinds,  the south end zone in SC and the north end zone in NC. That would be fuging awesome 

[Mr. Scot]

Again, some things to think about.

A few years ago, when the team was talking about the renovations (that they ultimately got Charlotte to help pay for) then team president Danny Morrison talked about the team being tied to Charlotte, and said their best tie was Jerry Richardson.

(oops)

Speaking of Danny Morrison, remember when  he caused of a stir by talking about the team being in a "stadium cycle" where they'd be looking at the possibility of a new stadium in the next ten years or so? At the time, it was the source of another "OMG THE PANTHERS ARE MOVING TO LOSS ANGELES" panic, but in reality he was just talking about the future.

I looked up when that happened. It was 2010.

What that tells you is the getting a new stadium is something that has been discussed in the Panthers offices, and the time frame would put it not terribly far in the future, pretty close to the time that the current stadium lease will end.

Put that together with Felix Sabates recent statements, and it's pretty clear the topic is on the minds of both people already in the building and people who are potentially looking at buying the team.

So ultimately, while the Panthers moving to another market isn't very likely, the possibility of them moving to a new location within this market is indeed real.

South Carolina? Who knows, but anything could happen.