Charlotte Chamber Issues Proclamation Supporting Keeping Panthers in Queen City

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Charlotte Chamber is officially supporting the effort to keep the Carolina Panthers in the Queen City.

Chamber President Bob Morgan issued a proclamation of appreciation and support Monday.

“Business retention 101. The Panthers are very important to our economy,” Morgan says.

Panthers owner and founder Jerry Richardson announced in December that he was selling the franchise, following allegations of workplace misconduct.

Potential buyers are putting in bids, some have already suggested that they’d want a new stadium.

The Chamber president shared stadium stats at the quarterly board of advisers meeting.

They say, since 2003, 10 cities have built or planned to build new stadiums. Public funding is included in nine of the 10. The average public contribution is 43 percent.

Morgan asked Mayor Vi Lyles about the city’s efforts to keep the Panthers.

“We have an NFL team that we should keep.. if we can afford to do it,” Lyles said.

WCCB Charlotte asked the Mayor if the city has an action plan to prepare for what a new owner could ask for.

“I don’t think that we’re going to spend our time blueskying. We’re going to wait until the owner comes in and see what they say,” Lyles says.

WCCB also asked the Mayor how the city should balance funding the Panthers with other needs, like affordable housing.

“A balanced community, with great entertainment for everyone who works here, with great housing for everyone who works here, it’s all the same. We’re going to balance all of this out,” Lyles says.