Charlotte Group Eyeing Panthers Buy - This Thread is Informative

[Jimmy]

Reported by Rick Rothacker - Charlotte Observer (link to article below)

A Charlotte Group that includes Felix Sabates and a "couple of current minority owners" are actively visiting other stadiums, hired advisers, and are looking to make a bid.  This is a serious group.  They have also fielded interest from other "sports celebrities" to get involved in the purchase.

Items of note from Sabates:

- $2B seems to be their ceiling?  Says that some have thrown a $3B number around he called those people "crazy".

- State and Local municipalities would need to "pony up"

- Building a dome is a priority. Said that the venue needs to recoup in the area of $40M-$50M per year for the numbers to make sense and BoA can't do that.  A dome would allow for numerous activities. retractable roof not necessary

- Would not name his consultants

- If you want to park close to the stadium, pony up as well

- Expects 5-6 legitimate buyers to be in the mix

- Keeping the team in Charlotte is important to him (Very glad he said that)

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article193006119.html

[LinvilleGorge]

$2B ain't gonna get it done. If that's their ceiling then they aren't a serious contender.

[PanthersATL]

As major stadiums have done in other sports (Tennis, particularly) -- you can build a dome and/or retractable roof on top of an existing facility.

 

[MikeD83]

“Sports celebrities” almost has to be Michael Jordan, right? Especially considering Sebates is also involved in Jordan’s Hornets ownership group.

[Jimmy]

2 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

$2B ain't gonna get it done. If that's their ceiling then they aren't a serious contender.

I should have put a question mark after that...but he hinted that it wouldn't be much more than $2B

[BAMFpanther]

I am currently sitting at Felix sebates right now as a matter of fact. Trying to make a trade. Could be a sign 

[PantherBrew]

This poo is all posturing and propaganda.  

That same guy had an article talking about how the city needed to buy and dome, and get with it.  

 

They are trying to scare the city. 

There is no fuging way you need to do all of those things to earn more revenue.   

Someone will deeper pockets will buy this team.

[o803oVaDeR]

I don't want a dome stadium. I understand it's appeal, but football is an outdoor sport. The unpredictable elements are one of the fun parts of the experience. Weather has never prevented me from attending or enjoying a game. Even those extreme heat first home games. 

[Happy Panther]

Why do we need a dome?

 

[Jimmy]

4 minutes ago, PantherBrew said:

This poo is all posturing and propaganda.  

That same guy had an article talking about how the city needed to buy and dome, and get with it.  

 

They are trying to scare the city. 

There is no fuging way you need to do all of those things to earn more revenue.   

Someone will deeper pockets will buy this team.

Deeper pockets won't mean anything, the state and city is where the money will come from regardless of who buys the team

[Eazy-E]

Lol 2 billion, asking to “pony up”, wanting a dome. What a joke.

[Snake]

A dome is a great idea. It would bring in tons of extra money and would make our home one of the loudest places to visit. 

[Riverboat Ron]

Huddle bake sale and we can put down $3 billion easy.

[AggieLean]

I’m down with a dome or stadium with retractable roof.