Breer / LaCanfora / Newton confirm what a lot of folks believed

[Woodie]

23 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

For everyone saying dont be concerned about moving...  this starts the same way everytime...  a out-of-towner/stater steps in and the stadium issue lingers.  Just like the owners used Rubin and Navarro to drive up the price while knowing they were picking Tepper, it worries me that he will use similar tactics with other cities as leverage to either get a new stadium OR move the team if he doesnt get his way, to maximize his return on his investment.  This region, this organization, this fanbase means nothing to him.  This is strictly a money making endeavor for him and the city or state he does it in will be an afterthoughy.  I just hope we can win a Superbowl before he moves the team and that will be something that can never be taken away from me.

You’re right, it does usually start out the same way. The teams that end up moving tend to have financial problems so move for financial reasons.  

So by that logic, the panther should be pretty safe here in Charlotte. They’re one of the most profitable teams in the league, they have one of the largest market areas when you consider they have two entire states all to themselves (and it’s still growing), and there is a strong fan base already in place. There’s no problem with attendance, merchandise sales, or general interest.

Basically none of the elements that lead to a franchise moving are in place here.   So I feel pretty good about the team sticking around…and that doesn’t even take into account that neither Tepper nor the league wants the team to move.  Nor does it take into account that any city that would except an NFL franchise would likely have to build a new modern dome for upwards of $2 billion, which is no more likely to happen elsewhere as it is here.

[Mr. Scot]

3 minutes ago, Woodie said:

You’re right, it does usually start out the same way. The teams that end up moving tend to have financial problems so move for financial reasons.  

So by that logic, the panther should be pretty safe here in Charlotte. They’re one of the most profitable teams in the league, they have one of the largest market areas when you consider they have two entire states all to themselves (and it’s still growing), and there is a strong fan base already in place. There’s no problem with attendance, merchandise sales, or general interest.

Basically none of the elements that lead to a franchise moving are in place here.   So I feel pretty good about the team sticking around…and that doesn’t even take into account that neither Tepper nor the league wants the team to move.  Nor does it take into account that any city that would except an NFL franchise would likely have to build a new modern dome for upwards of $2 billion, which is no more likely to happen elsewhere as it is here.

The threat of moving and actual moving are very different things.

The NFL doesn't want to move the Panthers out of the Carolinas. Neither does Tepper.

Will that stop them from threatening to do it?  No.

But will it actually happen?  Again, no.

[Jon Snow]

Meh, if he moves the team he moves it.  I'm not going to worry about it until it actually is happening.

[Mr. Scot]

Also, if it helps, one of the reasons that Tepper was interested in the Panthers is because he wants to stay on the East Coast. Charlotte is basically equidistant between his two homes, and his mother lives in Miami.

It was reported Tepper had a short list of teams he was interested in. All of those were in the Eastern US, and obviously the Panthers were one of them.

When people start naming cities that might want an NFL team, they're generally Midwest or West. I can't honestly think of an East Coast city that would apply.

[Woodie]

43 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

The threat of moving and actual moving are very different things.

The NFL doesn't want to move the Panthers out of the Carolinas. Neither does Tepper.

Will that stop them from threatening to do it?  No.

But will it actually happen?  Again, no.

Absolutely.  Just because I don't think there is a real chance the team is moved, I wouldn't be at all shocked to have the threat of it pushed through back channels and planted media articles. 

The only question will be how long until Tepper wants to start the push for a new stadium.  I'm giving it about a 5 year honeymoon window before we start hearing rumors of the team wanting/needing a new stadium.  And then we'll probably see some blowhard like Sabates, who is not technically associated with the team, start talking about the team moving if they don't get a new stadium.

Ultimately, something will get done with the city and/or state.  I also wouldn't be surprised if the league is involved as well.    

[shulasmyhero]

3 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

 

LaCanfora shed some light on this yesterday too, though not directly.  In his interview with WFNZ about the sale process available on their website) he continually talked about it as if it were being run by the NFL and its owners.  He barely discussed Jerry Richardson as a decision maker involved in the process at all.

Regarding Navarro and the others, LaCanfora characterized them as tools that the owners were using to try and goad Tepper into upping his bid.  Tepper didn't take the bait, and apparently made some pointed comments about Bank of America stadium bringing down the overall value of the team (lot of folks won't want to hear that).  Doesn't necessarily mean there'll be an imminent push for a new stadium, but it's something to bear in mind for later.

There's also this from David Newton.

Link

You could argue that the final price ended up being "substiantially less than 2.5 billion".

So the league inflated the expected price to encourage Rubin to drop out of the bidding. And it's worth remembering when you ponder that point that the league has a partnership with Rubin's "Fanatics" brand.

The NFL most definitely wanted that price, but they wanted Tepper to be the one who paid it.  He wouldn't go that high, hence the "drama" that Breer wrote about a while back.

In the end, Navarro didn't have the liquid cash, but it may not have mattered.

It was always gonna be Tepper.

I get that Tepper was the favorite, for several obvious reasons (cash on hand, in the club, previously vetted, quick turnaround, etc). But I don't buy that he was going to be the guy regardless.  If Navarro was able to lay down $2.6b in cash and Tepper didn't match, he would have been the guy.

Setting the market price for franchises is more important to the owners than any one particular guy getting a team over another.

[Mr. Scot]

5 minutes ago, shulasmyhero said:

I get that Tepper was the favorite, for several obvious reasons (cash on hand, in the club, previously vetted, quick turnaround, etc). But I don't buy that he was going to be the guy regardless.  If Navarro was able to lay down $2.6b in cash and Tepper didn't match, he would have been the guy.

Setting the market price for franchises is more important to the owners than any one particular guy getting a team over another.

Not just about Navarro, though.

In my mind, the biggest evidence that it was Tepper or no one is what they did to Michael Rubin. And like I said, Reuben is actually a business partner with the league.

I wasn't necessarily a fan of Rubin, but that's dirty.

 

[Proudiddy]

1 hour ago, Woodie said:

You’re right, it does usually start out the same way. The teams that end up moving tend to have financial problems so move for financial reasons.  

So by that logic, the panther should be pretty safe here in Charlotte. They’re one of the most profitable teams in the league, they have one of the largest market areas when you consider they have two entire states all to themselves (and it’s still growing), and there is a strong fan base already in place. There’s no problem with attendance, merchandise sales, or general interest.

Basically none of the elements that lead to a franchise moving are in place here.   So I feel pretty good about the team sticking around…and that doesn’t even take into account that neither Tepper nor the league wants the team to move.  Nor does it take into account that any city that would except an NFL franchise would likely have to build a new modern dome for upwards of $2 billion, which is no more likely to happen elsewhere as it is here.

 

1 hour ago, Mr. Scot said:

The threat of moving and actual moving are very different things.

The NFL doesn't want to move the Panthers out of the Carolinas. Neither does Tepper.

Will that stop them from threatening to do it?  No.

But will it actually happen?  Again, no.

Good points, but I counter that by asking, did you ever in your football life think a storied franchise (in one of the most universally revered cities in the entire US) like the Chargers would move out of San Diego?  Did you ever foresee the Raiders out of California altogether?  

While both of your posts provide some level of comfort, I just dont trust the billionaire boys club...  and while it may not mean much to our fans who weren't born and raised in NC, it means the world to me.  It is an identity.  It is a source of unique pride to have a team that represents the state that you were born and raised in...  it is a part of me and who I am...  so moving the team away from here would be devastating and I just dont trust these owners or what they say, ever...

I'm just gonna hope for the best and reference your points for reassurance.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about a new shift in leadership, philosophy, and the general trajectory of our franchise...  I just want loyalty to the fanbase, especially the ones that comprise the surrounding community, the region, and the majority of the fanbase itself.

[Mr. Scot]

4 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

Good points, but I counter that by asking, did you ever in your football life think a storied franchise (in one of the most universally revered cities in the entire US) like the Chargers would move out of San Diego?  Did you ever foresee the Raiders out of California altogether?  

While both of your posts provide some level of comfort, I just dont trust the billionaire boys club...  and while it may not mean much to our fans who weren't born and raised in NC, it means the world to me.  It is an identity.  It is a source of unique pride to have a team that represents the state that you were born and raised in...  it is a part of me and who I am...  so moving the team away from here would be devastating and I just dont trust these owners or what they say, ever...

I'm just gonna hope for the best and reference your points for reassurance.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about a new shift in leadership, philosophy, and the general trajectory of our franchise...  I just want loyalty to the fanbase, especially the ones that comprise the surrounding community, the region, and the majority of the fanbase itself.

Kinda hard to use the Raiders as an example. Al Davis was just a bit nuts. And the Chargers? They're a horribly run team.

I just don't see it happening, even though I do see it being threatened.

[shulasmyhero]

24 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Not just about Navarro, though.

In my mind, the biggest evidence that it was Tepper or no one is what they did to Michael Rubin. And like I said, Reuben is actually a business partner with the league.

I wasn't necessarily a fan of Rubin, but that's dirty.

 

FWIW- I appreciate the content you've provided during this process.  I hear ya, I certainly think Tepper was the preference.  

That said, I question whether those statements were actually made to Rubin or if so, what was the context, who delivered the message? Regardless, I'd argue that Rubin would have the same challenge as Navarro to come up with the cash needed.  If he was actually told that I think the advice was probably right.  A Heavily financed (in relative terms) offer from an owner that would struggle to put up the cash needed up front would need to significantly outbid the guy that has enough to pay in cash without partners.

The other owners wanted the price to get to $2.5b and they knew Tepper could swing it and was already "in the club" so yeah he was very likely the preference.  However, If someone else was able to put up 2.5b in cash and Tepper didn't move, I don't believe it would have been Tepper.

On a side note i don't think we can underestimate the importance of speed in this process.  The league wanted to put JR behind them.  Already vetted, no risk of stuff coming out about a selected candidate during the vetting process, no potential financial issues, etc.  Tepper was the safe pick for sure.  Incredibly important for a league dealing with a lot of noise the past couple of years.

[Woodie]

30 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

 

Good points, but I counter that by asking, did you ever in your football life think a storied franchise (in one of the most universally revered cities in the entire US) like the Chargers would move out of San Diego?  Did you ever foresee the Raiders out of California altogether?  

While both of your posts provide some level of comfort, I just dont trust the billionaire boys club...  and while it may not mean much to our fans who weren't born and raised in NC, it means the world to me.  It is an identity.  It is a source of unique pride to have a team that represents the state that you were born and raised in...  it is a part of me and who I am...  so moving the team away from here would be devastating and I just dont trust these owners or what they say, ever...

I'm just gonna hope for the best and reference your points for reassurance.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about a new shift in leadership, philosophy, and the general trajectory of our franchise...  I just want loyalty to the fanbase, especially the ones that comprise the surrounding community, the region, and the majority of the fanbase itself.

I absolutely get where you are coming from, but I don't think this is anything to fear in the foreseeable future.  

As for your examples, the Chargers actually started out in Los Angeles, so they actually just moved home.  Nevertheless, the problem for them was that they weren't performing well financially, and the city didn't want to pony up for a new stadium, which the team felt it needed to increase revenue.  

And the Raiders have had a long history of being nuts.  I don't think the Davis family has any real sense of loyalty to a region, so they are quick on the trigger to make a move.  Although I do see why they wanted to move from Oakland and that dilapidated stadium.  

While things can and do change, I just cannot see any way the Panthers move unless the region totally gives up on them, which is unlikely for a long, long time, IMO.

[ickmule]

Fug the NFL right in the anus.  It’s nothing more than a good ole rich boy club.  Another reason to care a little less than I already do.  

[Moo Daeng]

 

Newton doesn't really confirm this. Though Newton is the least weighty source of info IMO.

http://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/29866/what-fans-need-to-know-about-new-panthers-owner-dave-tepper

"He was chosen by Richardson because as a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers Tepper already has passed the NFL's vetting process. Richardson, according to sources, wanted to complete the sale as soon as possible with the allegations hanging over him, and Tepper had the easiest path to complete the transaction."

[Mr. Scot]

52 minutes ago, Moo Daeng said:

Newton doesn't really confirm this. Though Newton is the least weighty source of info IMO.

http://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/29866/what-fans-need-to-know-about-new-panthers-owner-dave-tepper

"He was chosen by Richardson because as a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers Tepper already has passed the NFL's vetting process. Richardson, according to sources, wanted to complete the sale as soon as possible with the allegations hanging over him, and Tepper had the easiest path to complete the transaction."

That sounds less like what Jerry Richardson would want and more like what the NFL would want.

Person wrote that the investigation isn't going away just because the team is sold.