Tax Hike Kitties

Being from Spartanburg, I, like many folks, had stock in Spartan Foods, the business the Richardson had while he was trying to get the Panthers from the NFL. He stated that he was spending the time necessary to make sure that his corporation stayed solvent. Shortly thereafter, they went bankrupt.
Charlotte told George Shinn not to let the door hit him in the ass on the way out, and I hope they tell Richardson the same.

The Bank of America stadium link seems unneccessary–it’s not even remotely relevant to this article.

That stadium is less than 20 years old. If Richardson “needs” it upgraded, then he frakked up the first time. Just say no, North Carolinians!

The difference between Bruton Smith and Jerry Richardson is the same difference between a Plate of BBQ Ribs and a bowl of boiled chitlins

Taxpayers in North Carolina should tell Richardson the same thing he demonstrated to the stockholders of Spartan Foods, go fuck yourself

Bruton is full of shit. He’s posturing. He asked for a ton of taxpayer subsidies to keep the speedway in Concord, from the city, county and state.

I wouldn’t trust a damned thing that came out of Bruton Smith’s mouth. He’s a very old, very rich bully who simply refuses to die.

I don’t support the public funding renovations to the stadium, but you are totally mischaracterizing the deal. Jerry Richardson is not in great health and since he fired his sons from the franchise, he has directed the executor of his will to sell the team within two years of his death. The public funding will keep the team in Charlotte rather than allowing a new owner to move the team to LA, which is clamoring for a team at the moment. The reality is that teams have the power to demand public money for upgrades now, even if it doesn’t seem right. As for Smith, I have a feeling that given the chance he too would ask for public money.

I laughed when everyone ran out and bought Panther PSLs when they were first sold. “Permanent” Seat Licenses until that SOB Richardson leaves Charlotte for a new city and a new stadium. I’m amazed at how cities whore themselves out to pro teams. it’s a proven fact that stadiums DO NOT encourage revitalization or economic development. Most the jobs are low pay concession/restaurant jobs. The team owners rake in tens of millions and get the suckers, er taxpayers to build their stadiums. Twenty years later and the owner runs to another city and the taxpayers er suckers are still stuck paying for the stadium.

Charlotte is better off telling Richardson to go to hell and move, spend the hundreds of millions fixing up downtown, improving public transportation, parks, roads, and making Charlotte less thuggy (all which will have economic development benefits) than to waste another penny building or renovating a stadium that benefits only one man.