New Panthers owner forced to keep statue of disgraced former owner at stadium
While new Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper would like the focus to be on his plans for the team’s future, he cannot completely put the franchise’s sullied past behind him.
Tepper has to keep the prominent statue of Panthers founder Jerry Richardson outside of the stadium as part of the NFL-record $2.2 billion deal he agreed to in June after Richardson decided to sell the team in December amid reports of sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace.
Tepper said Tuesday when he was introduced as the team’s new owner that he’s “contractually obligated” to keep the 13-foot high statue of Richardson standing alongside two growling panthers where it is.
The league substantiated the allegations against Richardson following a six-month investigation and fined him $2.75 million.
New owner David Tepper on Jerry Richardson statue outside BofA Stadium: I am contractually obligated to keep it. @WFAE pic.twitter.com/RGCbVCUp4O
— David Boraks (@davidboraks) July 10, 2018
Some fans have expressed their desire on social media and sports talk shows for removal of the statue, which was built in 2016.
While Tepper said contractually he can’t do that, he spoke repeatedly about changing the environment of the Panthers workplace.
The new owner said there will be “no impediment” in employees feeling comfortable coming forward if they have any problems on the business side of the organization.
He wants to create an environment where “everybody feels safe like a family.”
Sports Illustrated reported in December, citing unnamed sources, that Richardson made sexually suggestive comments to women and on at least one occasion directed a racial slur at an African-American Panthers scout. The report states that he reached settlements that included nondisclosure requirements forbidding the parties from discussing the details.
“Listen, whatever was, was. This is now,” Tepper said. “This is going to be an open place. So there are not going to be nondisclosure agreements, no matter what, in this new place. That was then, this is now.”
The Panthers are tied to Charlotte only through June 2019 in terms of a stadium agreement, but Tepper said the city is “the most logical place” to keep the team, although adding that a “redo” is necessary.
The team and the city of Charlotte came to an agreement on improvements for the stadium in 2013, calling for the city to contribute about $87 million for renovations to Bank of America Stadium in exchange for a six-year hard tether to keep the NFL franchise in Charlotte.
Tepper’s focus right now is on new practice facilities.
He said the Panthers are “falling behind a little bit” other teams in the league.
The new owner said he is considering moving the team’s practice facilities to South Carolina, in part to keep both states interested in the team. The Panthers currently practice on three fields within walking distance of their downtown stadium. Tepper said that valuable land could be used for developmental purposes.
Tepper, who grew up playing football, also said he wants more events at the team’s stadium, including high school state championship football games and the “right kind of concerts.”
He is excited about the football side of the team, praising two-time AP Coach of the Year Ron Rivera and his hiring of new offensive coordinator Norv Turner to replace Mike Shula.
“I’m not looking to do too much there,” Tepper said of the coaching side.
However, Tepper plans to hire a new team president to replace Danny Morrison, who left last year, and former COO Tina Becker, who resigned on Monday after seven months in the position. He said he has two replacement candidates in mind, both with some marketing background.
He also likes the makeup of the team’s roster with training camp right around the corner, citing how involved players are in the community and charity work.
Tepper quoted Spider-Man, saying that “with great power comes great responsibility.”
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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