Sabates officially drops out

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, ladypanther said:

That may tip things in Navarro's favor with Richardson, if there is not a big difference in money.  He owes a lot to the PSL owners and hopefully he would support them.  I know the stadium will not last forever...but new stadium talk does not need to be in the near future, IMO. There would be a huge backlash that I think would take a long time to recover from if the new owner abandoned the current loyal fans.  Charlotte is not Dallas or LA.

Tepper does have the advantage of being part of the team whom Richardson has always wanted to emulate. But if we're going on personal factors, I think a lot of things could nudge Jerry Richardson toward Ben Navarro.

Truth be told though, from what we've heard, Navarro might actually be the high bidder.  Word has been that Tepper lowballed his initial bid and wasn't necessarily willing to go that much higher.

That said, we know the NFL favors Tepper.  It'd be no surprise to hear they've tried to nudge him toward upping his offer.

[Davidson Deac II]

Fwiw, I think the only Nascar person who might have had a legit shot at ownership would be the Bruton and the Smith family.  And even then, they would have to bring in significant minority owners.  

[Johnny Rockets]

32 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Most analysts say it's down to Tepper vs Navarro, which is pretty much what we've long been expecting.  A lot of us early on thought Tepper would just outbid everybody, but that hasn't been the case.

Who you should root for is a matter of choice. I'd honestly be fine with either one.  There are differences I could see in what they might do, but it's all really just speculation.

On that front, I'd say if you want things done the Steeler Way by a guy with Northern sensibilities and a Miami address, you probably want Tepper.  If it means a lot that the owner is tied to the Carolinas and you want someone who'll run the team like a Southerner, then Navarro is your guy.

I know Katie Peralta recently said Tepper not being from here and not likely to live here even if he does buy the team shouldn't be a big deal, but I have a feeling for a lot of people it will.

Likewise, David Newton saying that Ben Navarro is a lot like Jerry Richardson probably throws some folks off, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'd make the same mistakes.

Either way, there's general agreement we'll know who the new owner is within the next few weeks.

Would it shock you if it turns out to be someone who hasn't been mentioned in the media yet? Just seems to me that is how these things tend to play out. 

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, Davidson Deac II said:

Fwiw, I think the only Nascar person who might have had a legit shot at ownership would be the Bruton and the Smith family.  And even then, they would have to bring in significant minority owners.  

The more people Sabates talked to (even Kid Rock, for cryin out loud) the less likely that bid seemed. And yeah, he probably should have been more discreet.

Sabates and his potential partners just don't run in the kind of circles the big boys do.

[t96]

26 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

For what it's worth, Ben Navarro has expressed a preference for an open air stadium.  Dome haters will likely be happy to hear that.

Do you have a source? Was it his actual words or a loose report? Either way I'm glad to see this as Navarro has been my preference and seems to be the favorite right now and I'm strongly against a new dome stadium. Having a grass field outdoors is the way football should be played. And there's no reason to move out of BoA anyways. Perfect location and the stadium is in fine shape for another decade or two at least. 

[Mr. Scot]

12 minutes ago, Johnny Rockets said:

Would it shock you if it turns out to be someone who hasn't been mentioned in the media yet? Just seems to me that is how these things tend to play out. 

Not all that much.  As Jourdan Rodrigue mentioned a long time ago, Billionaires tend to operate in secret. I might conceivably be kinda shocked if Kestenbaum wins.

The more I read, the more I think it's gonna be Navarro, but you can't count out a guy with Tepper's wallet.

 

And hey, anything can happen.

[Mr. Scot]

3 minutes ago, t96 said:

Do you have a source? Was it his actual words or a loose report? Either way I'm glad to see this as Navarro has been my preference and seems to be the favorite right now and I'm strongly against a new dome stadium. Having a grass field outdoors is the way football should be played. And there's no reason to move out of BoA anyways. Perfect location and the stadium is in fine shape for another decade or two at least. 

Peralta and Rothaker reported it.  They said he prefers an uptown location too.

Quote

Navarro did not know Richardson before deciding to bid on the Panthers. But sources say he likes how the Panthers have catered to both North and South Carolina since their inception, and is a proponent of keeping an open-air stadium in uptown.

Link

[The Huddler]

Give me tepper

 

 

southerns are fat and lazy

 

give me a balls to the wall winner

[Mr. Scot]

Video of Ben Navarro, recently caught on Twitter.

 

[!stUp]

3 minutes ago, The Huddler said:

Give me tepper

 

 

southerns are fat and lazy

 

give me a balls to the wall winner

Yes because all northerners are the paragon of fitness and motivation.....jackass.

[t96]

4 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Peralta and Rothaker reported it.  They said he prefers an uptown location too.

Link

Thanks, I hadn't seen that before. And in response to another of your posts where you said that Navarro would run it more like a southern man like JR, I'm not so sure that's the case. He grew up in the Northeast and moved down south in 2004. Still probably more of a New Englander than a southerner... but yes he has the local ties now and wouldn't bring up questions of moving like Tepper or Kestenbaum.

[sml1950]

I’m sure the next owner would be willing to take his $25-30 million for 1% of the Panthers and give him a priorty parking space and invite to the Xmas party.

[Mr. Scot]

8 minutes ago, !stUp said:

Yes because all northerners are the paragon of fitness and motivation.....jackass.

Pretty sure he's being facetious.

Seriously though, Navarro paid his own way through college by starting his own business.  Doubt anybody could call him lazy. 

Heck, he actually seems to be the most motivated bidder.  Breer described his bidding as "aggressive".

Tepper?  Well...

[Mr. Scot]

7 minutes ago, t96 said:

Thanks, I hadn't seen that before. And in response to another of your posts where you said that Navarro would run it more like a southern man like JR, I'm not so sure that's the case. He grew up in the Northeast and moved down south in 2004. Still probably more of a New Englander than a southerner... but yes he has the local ties now and wouldn't bring up questions of moving like Tepper or Kestenbaum.

I'm actually quoting David Newton when I say that.

Newton said Navarro's personality is a lot like Jerry Richardson (minus the creepy stuff).  Someone else here made a similar statement, quoting a friend who worked for Navarro and describing him as humble and laid back.

Newton also seemed to indicate that Navarro would look to a consultant to help reorganize the team.  I'm very much in favor of that.