Pat McCrory says there is no money for the stadium.

[teeray]

First of all, assholes, Pat McCrory is no longer mayor of Charlotte. He's governor of NC.

Second of all, the state has no business funding private enterprise.

Good to know. Should we take back all of the free land and tax exemptions we have given Google and Apple which has created 1,000s of new jobs and reverse all of the subsidies and tax incentives that bring so many tech jobs to RTP?

We should also take away the tax breaks for the film industry and lose those hundreds of local jobs.

Some of you guys act like these companies have come to NC because they love the climate.

[SCP]

Good to know. Should we take back all of the free land tax exemptions we have given Google and Apple which has created 1,000s of new jobs and reverse all of the subsidies and tax incentives that bring so many tech jobs to RTP?

We should also take away the tax breaks for the film industry and lose those hundreds of local jobs.

Some of you guys act like these companies have come to NC because they love the climate.

Ding ding ding! Winner!

[Scrumtrilescent]

Political posturing....next you guys will tell me water is wet.

[OneBadCat]

The team isn't going to leave. If the panthers left my jaw would literally hit the floor. I would be just as pissed at the city of Charlotte and the state as I would be at the Panthers for leaving. It hurt enough when the Hornets left.

The Panthers leaving is literally the worst nightmare of every sports fan in the Charlotte area. I don't even see us getting another team if they go. The Panthers were literally designed for North and South Carolina it would such a shame to see them go. I would stop watching football.

[MadHatter]

The team isn't going to leave. If the panthers left my jaw would literally hit the floor. I would be just as pissed at the city of Charlotte and the state as I would be at the Panthers for leaving. It hurt enough when the Hornets left.

The Panthers leaving is literally the worst nightmare of every sports fan in the Charlotte area. I don't even see us getting another team if they go. The Panthers were literally designed for North and South Carolina it would such a shame to see them go. I would stop watching football.

I don't think the team will leave while JR is still alive and running things. However, it is widely known that he plans on selling the team upon his death. Without something to hold the team in Charlotte (part of the funding agreement woudl be a guarantee tying the team here for an extended period of time), moving COULD (and I only say could) be a possibility.

[Floppin]

They can come make minimum wage where I work...legal or not. Plenty of openings.

Or the government can get smart and start farming the medians along the highways using the labor of those that want a hand-out and are able-bodied.

Piss in this cup and show me you aren't on drugs and you can have a job...otherwise good luck.

I already give up 42% of my paycheck to the Gov. I can't give anymore.

Newsflash: minimum wage is not a living wage and is FAR below the poverty line. People who work at minimum wage still require government subsidies to fuging survive. It's not the unemployed that you're paying for, the MAJORITY of those that use government subsidies are the working poor.

[SCP]

Newsflash: minimum wage is not a living wage and is FAR below the poverty line. People who work at minimum wage still require government subsidies to fuging survive. It's not the unemployed that you're paying for, the MAJORITY of those that use government subsidies are the working poor.

Like JR

[teeray]

Corporate welfare needs to die.

Hell this is worse than the Vikings, at least Minnesota actually owns that stadium...

I 100% agree with you on the federal level. The problem with killing corporate welfare at the state level is that if we don't give incentives other states will, and you will lose thousands and thousands of new and existing jobs as the other state legislatures happily give out those incentives to companies that want to bring those jobs to their state.

You have to do those type of things to keep your state competitive and maintain and grow it's economy.

[SCP]

The reality is when JR passes and the team sells, all bets are off unless there is something tying the team to the City/State. And even something that ties the team to the area will have a buyout clause or some form of an out.

[Panthro]

Yeah let's move a team with a history of sell outs without having to produce a winning product

[Floppin]

Like JR

Technically it's the Panthers, and not JR. Just like the literally thousands of other businesses in NC that take government money. You guys act like the Panthers are the only business in the state that asks for assistance in infrastructure funding. Do you think that Lowe's built that fuging 400 million dollar facility in Mooresville, without government incentives? They net 30billion a year, afterall.

I mean for fugs sake, Forsyth county gave them 3.6 million in incentives just for building a data center that only fuging employs 30 people.

[Catalyst]

I hope all you right-wing anti-government types realize we're talking about losing our team here. This is exactly what I was worried about with McCrory - he's going hard-right to pacify the tea party and it's going to cost us the Panthers before it's all said and done...

[MadHatter]

I 100% agree with you on the federal level. The problem with killing corporate welfare at the state level is that if we don't give incentives other states will, and you will lose thousands and thousands of new and existing jobs as the other state legislatures happily give out those incentives to companies that want to bring those jobs to their state.

You have to do those type of things to keep your state competitive and maintain and grow it's economy.

You are exactly correct.

Would it be better for our government's fiscal condition if none of these corporate subsidies are given? Yes.

But, as long as other state's offer incentives to get or keep important employers, this is just a price to do business.

[Lords0fPain]

This is why Charlotte SHOULD help out;

1. It is a 265 million dollar project, Charlotte is not being asked to pay for it all.

2. In addition to saving the existing jobs (and tax revenue they create), it will also employ even more people to actually do the renovation (thus a larger tax base).

3. All cities do help out the teams they would like to keep, or they leave, its business.

4. If the Panthers leave, the small (and some big) business lose revenue (thus jobs/tax money) during home games. Panthers don't pay taxes in Charlotte anymore and people are out of work.

5. If renovation isn't done, both potential players (signing here) and fans will not be to thrilled to want to come to games and spend money.

6. People (including the citities) has to invest money if they want to make money over the long term. It's the same principle as keeping their roads in good condition, if they want business/tourist to come to their city.