Steelers’ minority owner David Tepper is expected to sign the deal today to buy the Panthers, league sources tell Seth Wickersham and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal will be finalized upon the NFL’s approval at the league meetings on Tuesday, May 22.
The $2.2 billion sale marks a new NFL record, though it was not necessarily the highest bid. During the process, there have been rumblings of bids in the $2.5 billion range. Late last year, there was some talk of a sale in the neighborhood of $3 billion, but that never came to pass.
However, Tepper’s purchase comes mostly in cash, which gave him a leg-up over the competition. He’s also a slam dunk to pass the NFL’s vetting process since he already owns a piece of the Steelers and the Panthers likely wanted to move on from the Jerry Richardson situation as quickly as possible.
The sale is indicative of the continued growth and health of the league, despite some fretting in 2017 over sagging television ratings. It’s also likely a product of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow states to legalize gambling. The decision from the country’s highest court is expected to open up new revenue streams for sports league, boost overall interest, and bring new fans into the fold.
In terms of football operations, it remains to be seen how the purchase affects the team. What we do know, per Schefter, is that Tepper will keep the team in Carolina. Meanwhile, Tepper is hoping to bring the Steeler way to Charlotte as he will emphasize “continuity, stability, progressive thinking on player contract extensions, and not setting the market on free agents,” per Schefter (Twitter link).
That just looks like a terrible investment during Peak DOW.
How in the world could the Supreme Court decision yesterday have effected price that was negotiated weeks ago. Did the NFL inform the panthers and potential buyers that they were going to lose their case?
The SCOTUS ruling has been anticipated for some time. Tepper and other bidders went in with the belief that the league would continue to grow thanks to legalized gambling in many states.
It’s the same thing that likely prompted Vince McMahon to reboot the XFL and for Charlie Ebersol to launch the AAF.
So do you think they negotiated an approval price and a defeat price? I agree the timing makes it appear that they were waiting for the ruling
I hear Tepper will install cakes with Trump’s face in all the urinals at Bank of America Stadium.
count me in – where do i sign up for PSLs?
The last former Steeler minority owner who bought a different team and tried to bring the “Steeler Way” with him was Jimmy Haslam.
Hopefully, for Panthers fan’s sake, Tepper isn’t an incompetent crook.
Haslam was and is an idiot. He shouldn’t even be an owner after that fraud incident involving his truck stop company. Don’t care if he paid fines or not. The NFL wants to talk about integrity of the game and fine Jones and take pics away from the Pats but a guy who knowingly ran a fraud can keep his team. Maybe it’s karma
As long as he doesn’t pry Omar Khan away from the Steelers, best of luck to him.