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SPORTS Monday 18 deceMber 2017

Facing misconduct investigation, Panthers owner selling team

By STEVE REED ardson, a former player tographed sitting beside his The Panthers are tied to vations to Bank of America
AP Sports Writer with the Baltimore Colts, wife Rosalind in his luxury Charlotte through June of Stadium in exchange for a
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — an expansion franchise in box. 2019. six-year deal to keep the
Facing a growing investi- 1993, and he has been the He did not speak to report- The city of Charlotte and Panthers in Charlotte. The
gation that accuses him team’s only owner. ers. the Panthers reached money is less than what
of sexual misconduct and Richardson’s letter did not “While I will no longer be agreement on improve- the team was seeking for
using racist language at directly address the inves- the team owner, I will al- ments for the team’s stadi- improvements of the stadi-
work, Carolina Panthers tigation. ways be the Panthers Num- um in 2013. The plan called um, which opened in 1996.
owner Jerry Richardson an- “There has been no greater ber One fan,” Richardson’s for the city to contribute Forbes estimates the Pan-
nounced Sunday that he mission or purpose in my life letter said. about $87 million for reno- thers worth at $2.3 billion.q

In this Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016 file photo, Carolina Panthers
owner Jerry Richardson watches before the NFL football NFC
Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals in Charlotte,
N.C.
Associated Press

will sell the NFL team after than to have brought and
the season. NFL franchise to Charlotte,”
The team announced on Richardson wrote. “The
Twitter that Richardson is obstacles back then were
selling the team, linking to significant and some even
a five-paragraph letter by questioned whether or
the franchise’s only owner. community could or would
“I believe it is time to turn support professional foot-
the franchise over to new ball. But I always knew that
ownership,” Richardson if given the chance the
wrote, saying he wouldn’t Carolina would rise to the
begin discussions until after occasion. And you have.
the season. The Panthers, The team has become an
who lost in the Super Bowl integral part of the com-
in 2016, are in playoff posi- munity.
tion again. The stadium is in its best
“I hope everyone in the condition since the day it
organization, both on and opened.”
off the field, will be firmly Richardson attended the
focused on one mission: game Sunday’s game
to play and win the Super against the Green Bay
Bowl,” said Richardson, 81. Packers at Bank of Ameri-
The NFL awarded Rich- ca Stadium and was pho-