team investor johnny harris interview

[panther4life]

http://www.gastongazette.com/sports/panthers-37463-bros-richardson.html

CHARLOTTE — Like many others in the Carolinas I thought one day Jerry Richardson would pass the torch to his son Mark as the next generation owner of the Carolina Panthers.

I’m pretty sure Jerry Richardson always felt that way, too.

That’s why Tuesday’s announcement (see story here) came as such a shock to everyone close to the Panthers and was greeted with a collective, “What? You’ve got to be kidding me. Why?”

When Mark Richardson resigned as team president, and Jon Richardson as stadium president, it shook the Panthers to the very core and left fans and PSL owners alike wondering about the future of franchise. Combined with Jerry

Richardson’s recent health problems fans and the absence of explanation in the press release issued by the team, fans were thinking the worst.

Why did they resign?

Are the Panthers moving?

Are the Panthers selling?

Those thoughts crossed my mind, too.

But while Mark and Jon have left the Panthers, Jerry has shown no such inclination.

Addressing the team’s investors as a meeting Tuesday morning, Jerry was committed to the Panthers future in Charlotte and appeared to be “strong as a bear” and well on his way to a full recovery just seven months after heart transplant surgery, according to Johnny Harris, a member of the team’s partnership group.

“The thing that surprised me was how invigorated he was,” said Harris, one of the 16 members of the group. “He was committed to dealing with this operations change. He’s the same guy I invested in with when he began a hamburger business and the same guy I invested with when he began a football team. It’s pretty clear that the Big Cat is feeling good and is back in charge.”

Harris said Richardson still plans on heading up a new collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and its players union in the coming months, just as he did earlier this decade. And the challenge ahead, proceeding without his sons involved in the day-to-day operations of the team, seems to have reinvigorated the 73-year-old Richardson, Harris said.

“You could have put him in a (football) game today,” Harris said. “When Jerry is presented with a challenge he’s the best leader there is.”

Harris said Richardson made it clear he’s committed to moving on and winning a Super Bowl. And on the football side of things everything remains the same.

“The doctors are confident in his ability to lead and the NFL is continuing to leave him in position to negotiate with the players union,” Harris said. “So we are very comfortable that Jerry is the right man for the job. The team isn’t leaving Charlotte. The team is not for sale and there is no interest in moving the team.”

Bottom line: The Panthers are staying — for now.

The big question — the one nobody wants to ask — is what will happen to the Panthers after Jerry Richardson is gone and there’s nobody there to hand the baton to?

That will play out in the future — hopefully a very long, long time down the road.

But I have a feeling the Panthers will never leave Charlotte. The investment group is committed to staying and the city is too much of a gold mine. In the meantime fans can rest assured that the team is in good hands, and that the Big Cat is back in charge.

[panther4life]

Sounds to me like Jerry is on a mission. And i like it!

[pstall]

From this, maybe Jerry figuritively as well as physically has a NEW heart. Maybe he said I'm not ready to go yet and I want to live each day the rest of my life. Get on board or get out of the way.

[OneBadassCat]

I would go absolutely ape poo if the team left. Especially if its to those pricks in LA.

Jerry FTW.

[monstercat]

I don't get it...what does being the stadium manager or the team president have to do with their ability to inherit the team from their father? The author acts as if Jerry cut them out of his will or something.

[Tank]

Hmmm so a fan and a PSL owner aren't necessarily one and the same? Interesting.

[Montsta]

Hmmm so a fan and a PSL owner aren't necessarily one and the same? Interesting.

No, they are not the same. A PSL owner has in all likelihood tens of thousands of dollars invested into a license to buy season tickets for seats at a stadium that could conceivably no longer be where the Carolina Panthers play football in this scenario. So while I consider myself a huge, bleeding blue Carolina fan, my only investment in the team is a few grand in jersey's and memorabillia. If they sold or moved the team, the PSL owners could get f***ed.

[Snake]

I hate to say it but the future is unclear. After Richardson the team could be sold off and who knows what happens then.... The Hornets left I guess so could the Panthers.

[Jangler]

I guess sales of Panther product could go down unless they make it very clear the team isn't and will not be going anywhere anytime soon. So far they really haven't got out in front of this story yet. I hope that changes real quick.

[Squirrel]

Why in their right mind would they move? The stadium is 70% sold out before tickets even go on sale with the PSL's. This isnt amount moving the team this is something in the office or family move.

[User Name]

I'll have to admit, I'm totally confused with what the hell the Richardson's have to do with the Panthers staying in Charlotte...

Still one of the best (pretty much payed for) stadiums, still a great fanbase (in house and viewership), no where close to a struggling team, why any talk of the team moving?

My gosh, why are we so needy? Charlotte is a solid mid market, we may have a feeling that we lack competitive respect, but I'm pretty darn sure the NFL LOVES our market, why would they want to move? LA? there's way better candidates for that.

Most of y'all probably have the same mindset as I, but I just can't see why the Richardson boys choosing to do other things, have instantly spurred some talk of a team sale, and move.

HUH?

[Jangler]

Why in their right mind would they move? The stadium is 70% sold out before tickets even go on sale with the PSL's. This isnt amount moving the team this is something in the office or family move.

I agree, but with the way people freak out over a bad preseason the same might be happening with PSL owners. No, they need to get it out there and make it very clear that the team is not going anywhere.

[Gman was right]

As a PSL owner I know I sure as hell am concerned about the teams future in Charlotte. I know if I owned this team I would have packed up and left a long time ago and took the team to a city where they actually apreciate football since they dont apreciate it here in charlotte. This news should have all true panther fans concerned. Granted there is only a handful of us but still we should be concerned.

[Squirrel]

As a PSL owner I know I sure as hell am concerned about the teams future in Charlotte. I know if I owned this team I would have packed up and left a long time ago and took the team to a city where they actually apreciate football since they dont apreciate it here in charlotte. This news should have all true panther fans concerned. Granted there is only a handful of us but still we should be concerned.

Except for one thing football is a business and as long as they are making a profit here they wont move.