49ers Stadium Naming

[bcoach]

Why do we care? I have never seen such an inferiority complex in my life. Every time any school does anything this board lights up. UNCC, Liberty, UNC, and on and on. The only time the board does not go negative ballistic is when it is Montana. If we spent as much time and energy on ways to raise money as we do worrying about every other school we would have gold plated bleachers.

[MAD Doctor]

Don't count on lights if the stadium is named for Jerry Richardson. He has been keeping people in the dark for 18 years.

[NWA49]

Don't count on lights if the stadium is named for Jerry Richardson. He has been keeping people in the dark for 18 years.

LOL Now that is funny....

[Maddog1956]

ya, Charlotte is a sports town, there is just too many other teams, and the 49's are going to be way down on the list of teams to watch, Tarheel, State, ECU, App, Wake Forest, Duke, Clemson fans are not going to stay in Charlotte on a Sat afternoon to watch the 49's. I suspect that the first year or 2 they will have good attendance, wouldn't surpise me to see it north of 14,000, but once they start losing, and playing teams in their conference like, FAU, FIU, people will lose interest, and their numbers will probably drop.

I don't know how many of the 20k-25k students and 100k alums are fans of these other teams or will put them over their own 49'ers, but I have heard many of the students that are ready to go. Also many others in Charlotte that didn't go to college kind of consider UNCC their local team. Many that work in NASCAR, or are big fans, love the Saturday afternoon sports because Sundays are taken. They tend to go to minor league baseball and would like to have a local college team to watch.

But I agree that that it has to do with wins, but I wouldn't count them out in that department after a few years also. There recruiting program just went up by $10 million. I can just imagine it now. "Well son I hope you liked everything here we talked about, by the way do you know who the Richardson is that the stadium is named for? Yes that right the guy that owns the Panthers, do you think after giving $10 million he's not watching our players....hum".

[Maddog1956]

It's curious to me how so many predict low attendance for the 49'ers. What do they have to go on? Didn't they outdraw ASU in the Spring game? They have room to expand that we don't have in a practical manner.

They have too many students/alum to have too low of attendance. Also many of them don't go home for the weekend because charlotte is the place "to go" on weekends anyway. Plus charlotte is a city of ppl that support things like the arts, sports, etc so the money will come in. Remember the hornets had some of the best attendance in the NBA (no one liked the bobcats for many reasons). I imagine their stadium will never end building in the near future.

In my opinion, the Hornets had a much better location than the BoBCats. The Colliseum on Woodlawn was much easier to get to and parking was not a problem as it had a huge parking lot of its own. The BobCat's arena (whatever it is called now) is downtown where parking is at a premium. The last place I want to be before and after a game is in the middle of Charlotte, especially with family.

I agree, but if you use the light rail it isn't too bad and you can trade off parking cost for rail tickers, but I did like where the old one was better.

[Maddog1956]

The problem with the Bobcats isn't that the arena is located in a thriving downtown area. The problem is that they are terrible and this city has no loyalty to the Bobcats brand. One of those has been corrected, just have to field a decent team now.

That's part of the problem, meaning that if they started winning ppl would come. But also the movers and shakers in charlotte feel they were burned one time when the team moved and with the BOBcats it looked so much like a carpetbagger team. Meaning nothing seemed either charlotte or NC about it.

[Gonzo]

I think it's ridiculous, honestly. Richardson investing in a glorified community college with unholy amounts of his personal wealth. Meanwhile, he's begging every self-sufficient entity in Charlotte for money to keep his shadow of a franchise afloat.

I thought you went to Wofford, Jerry. You're making business decisions like you went to school at that trucker college in Harrisburg on which you just waisted ten million dollars.

[ImfromClayton]

I think it's ridiculous, honestly. Richardson investing in a glorified community college with unholy amounts of his personal wealth. Meanwhile, he's begging every self-sufficient entity in Charlotte for money to keep his shadow of a franchise afloat.

I thought you went to Wofford, Jerry. You're making business decisions like you went to school at that trucker college in Harrisburg on which you just waisted ten million dollars.

Keep looking down your nose at us Gonzo. I won't waste my time with that community college crap today, I'm sure you've heard every argument anyway, and I'm sure you don't care.

I understand why people would be upset, I really do. At the same time, do you not see even a little bit how a man who asked for so much from the community might be trying to give back to that same community in good faith? Let's not kid ourselves, Jerry Richardson won't be around much longer. His health is fading. All reports indicate potential buyers of the panthers trying to move the team to L.A. upon his death, even though he wants them to stay in Charlotte. Maybe he just wants his name on something football related in the city he brought the NFL to. I'm not asking you to agree, I'm just asking you to see both sides of the argument. Maybe he saw somebody trying to start a football team in the city he loves, just like he did 20 years ago, and where the community overwhelming bought PSL's for him, he figured he'd give back and help our program, pay it forward you know?

Look, I know Charlotte is not going to have the support that you guys have to start off with. We are trying to build it. Why is a man suddenly evil for throwing us a bone? We are gaining support from our local community. Most modern professional sports stadiums used substantial tax payer dollars. This is not about taxes and you know it. This is about blind hate for UNC Charlotte.

[bcoach]

I think it's ridiculous, honestly. Richardson investing in a glorified community college with unholy amounts of his personal wealth. Meanwhile, he's begging every self-sufficient entity in Charlotte for money to keep his shadow of a franchise afloat.

I thought you went to Wofford, Jerry. You're making business decisions like you went to school at that trucker college in Harrisburg on which you just waisted ten million dollars.

Keep looking down your nose at us Gonzo. I won't waste my time with that community college crap today, I'm sure you've heard every argument anyway, and I'm sure you don't care.

I understand why people would be upset, I really do. At the same time, do you not see even a little bit how a man who asked for so much from the community might be trying to give back to that same community in good faith? Let's not kid ourselves, Jerry Richardson won't be around much longer. His health is fading. All reports indicate potential buyers of the panthers trying to move the team to L.A. upon his death, even though he wants them to stay in Charlotte. Maybe he just wants his name on something football related in the city he brought the NFL to. I'm not asking you to agree, I'm just asking you to see both sides of the argument. Maybe he saw somebody trying to start a football team in the city he loves, just like he did 20 years ago, and where the community overwhelming bought PSL's for him, he figured he'd give back and help our program, pay it forward you know?

Look, I know Charlotte is not going to have the support that you guys have to start off with. We are trying to build it. Why is a man suddenly evil for throwing us a bone? We are gaining support from our local community. Most modern professional sports stadiums used substantial tax payer dollars. This is not about taxes and you know it. This is about blind hate for UNC Charlotte.

That is the most ridicules thing I have ever read. What on earth are you thinking? Do you really believe that a man should be able to spend his own money the way he wants? Where in the heck to you think we are? The United States or something? That horrible man should only be able to spend his money the way we want him to.

[Gonzo]

I think it's ridiculous, honestly. Richardson investing in a glorified community college with unholy amounts of his personal wealth. Meanwhile, he's begging every self-sufficient entity in Charlotte for money to keep his shadow of a franchise afloat.

I thought you went to Wofford, Jerry. You're making business decisions like you went to school at that trucker college in Harrisburg on which you just waisted ten million dollars.

Keep looking down your nose at us Gonzo. I won't waste my time with that community college crap today, I'm sure you've heard every argument anyway, and I'm sure you don't care.

I understand why people would be upset, I really do. At the same time, do you not see even a little bit how a man who asked for so much from the community might be trying to give back to that same community in good faith? Let's not kid ourselves, Jerry Richardson won't be around much longer. His health is fading. All reports indicate potential buyers of the panthers trying to move the team to L.A. upon his death, even though he wants them to stay in Charlotte. Maybe he just wants his name on something football related in the city he brought the NFL to. I'm not asking you to agree, I'm just asking you to see both sides of the argument. Maybe he saw somebody trying to start a football team in the city he loves, just like he did 20 years ago, and where the community overwhelming bought PSL's for him, he figured he'd give back and help our program, pay it forward you know?

Look, I know Charlotte is not going to have the support that you guys have to start off with. We are trying to build it. Why is a man suddenly evil for throwing us a bone? We are gaining support from our local community. Most modern professional sports stadiums used substantial tax payer dollars. This is not about taxes and you know it. This is about blind hate for UNC Charlotte.

I'm not saying he doesn't have a reason. He wants his name on something, good for him. But no matter the reasoning, the decision is no less unethical/hypocritical.

He's groveled to hard working people in their area for their money to support HIS PROPERTY instead of spending his own fortune. Then he turns around and drops a cool $10 Mil because he wants a little stadium to have his name on it.

The fact that it's a terrible investment in a dead-in-the-water football program with the most delusional and transient "fanbase" of all time is secondary.

[ImfromClayton]

So then I trust you are aware that the amount he asked for the renovations is the least of the 8 most recent NFL stadium upgrades asked from their community? If you see it as slapping his name on something, I guess that's all it is to you, and I'm sure that makes you angry. If you see it as a gift in good spirit, I don't see how it could make you angry.

If his gift was to Appalachian State, your opinion on the ethics or hypocrisy of his decision would be much different.

[Saint3333]

For me where the money is going isn't the issue, it could go to any college football program and I'd disagree with it.

You can't ask for public funds to upgrade the football stadium that you own and then turn around a donate money for another one and not expect backlash. Take UNCC completely out of the equation it just rubs me (a Charlotte tax payer) the wrong way.

[ASU-FTW]

Somewhat off topic here but I can't help laugh at the fact that the bandwagon non-Panther fans in Charlotte will have to pay for BoA Stadium upgrades. I'm looking at you, Steeler, Redskin, Cowboy, etc. fans.

[firemoose]

For me where the money is going isn't the issue, it could go to any college football program and I'd disagree with it.

You can't ask for public funds to upgrade the football stadium that you own and then turn around a donate money for another one and not expect backlash. Take UNCC completely out of the equation it just rubs me (a Charlotte tax payer) the wrong way.

Excellent Post. I am not a direct Charlotte tax payer (live in Boone) but I have several friends who own clubs and restaurants in Charlotte (which I go to often) so indirectly I do pay F & B and other taxes into the local economy, and as a PSL owner JR gets his pound of flesh also. The ones I've spoken to in the past couple of days are outraged about this considering everything that has gone on with the BoA controversy. With the tremendous amount of support of the program we keep hearing about the 49er's Club should be ranking in money hand over fist.

JR is free to do what he wants to with his money but it is just a bit hypocritical that this has happened on the heels of all we've been hearing and reading in the past few months.

[ImfromClayton]

For me where the money is going isn't the issue, it could go to any college football program and I'd disagree with it.

You can't ask for public funds to upgrade the football stadium that you own and then turn around a donate money for another one and not expect backlash. Take UNCC completely out of the equation it just rubs me (a Charlotte tax payer) the wrong way.

Excellent Post. I am not a direct Charlotte tax payer (live in Boone) but I have several friends who own clubs and restaurants in Charlotte (which I go to often) so indirectly I do pay F & B and other taxes into the local economy, and as a PSL owner JR gets his pound of flesh also. The ones I've spoken to in the past couple of days are outraged about this considering everything that has gone on with the BoA controversy. With the tremendous amount of support of the program we keep hearing about the 49er's Club should be ranking in money hand over fist.

JR is free to do what he wants to with his money but it is just a bit hypocritical that this has happened on the heels of all we've been hearing and reading in the past few months.

You hear what you want to hear. For every angry person, there is a person who thinks it's great he gave back to the community. The only people genuinely fired up about it on either side of the fence are college football fans with a bias.

[ASUMountaineer]

For me where the money is going isn't the issue, it could go to any college football program and I'd disagree with it.

You can't ask for public funds to upgrade the football stadium that you own and then turn around a donate money for another one and not expect backlash. Take UNCC completely out of the equation it just rubs me (a Charlotte tax payer) the wrong way.

Excellent Post. I am not a direct Charlotte tax payer (live in Boone) but I have several friends who own clubs and restaurants in Charlotte (which I go to often) so indirectly I do pay F & B and other taxes into the local economy, and as a PSL owner JR gets his pound of flesh also. The ones I've spoken to in the past couple of days are outraged about this considering everything that has gone on with the BoA controversy. With the tremendous amount of support of the program we keep hearing about the 49er's Club should be ranking in money hand over fist.

JR is free to do what he wants to with his money but it is just a bit hypocritical that this has happened on the heels of all we've been hearing and reading in the past few months.

You hear what you want to hear. For every angry person, there is a person who thinks it's great he gave back to the community. The only people genuinely fired up about it on either side of the fence are college football fans with a bias.

Is there another type?

[Gonzo]

Somewhat off topic here but I can't help laugh at the fact that the bandwagon non-Panther fans in Charlotte will have to pay for BoA Stadium upgrades. I'm looking at you, Steeler, Redskin, Cowboy, etc. fans.

Oh you mean like 80% of all NFL fans in Charlotte?

[Gonzo]

For me where the money is going isn't the issue, it could go to any college football program and I'd disagree with it.

You can't ask for public funds to upgrade the football stadium that you own and then turn around a donate money for another one and not expect backlash. Take UNCC completely out of the equation it just rubs me (a Charlotte tax payer) the wrong way.

Excellent Post. I am not a direct Charlotte tax payer (live in Boone) but I have several friends who own clubs and restaurants in Charlotte (which I go to often) so indirectly I do pay F & B and other taxes into the local economy, and as a PSL owner JR gets his pound of flesh also. The ones I've spoken to in the past couple of days are outraged about this considering everything that has gone on with the BoA controversy. With the tremendous amount of support of the program we keep hearing about the 49er's Club should be ranking in money hand over fist.

JR is free to do what he wants to with his money but it is just a bit hypocritical that this has happened on the heels of all we've been hearing and reading in the past few months.

You hear what you want to hear. For every angry person, there is a person who thinks it's great he gave back to the community. The only people genuinely fired up about it on either side of the fence are college football fans with a bias.

How is donating to one particular school (on the outskirts of the city limits that does very little to bolster the Charlotte economy) "giving back to the community?"

You're treating a football donation like he built a park in the inner city. Whose the biased one again? UNCC is NOT engrained in the culture of the city. Not by a long shot. No one benefits from his donation other than UNC-Charlotte.

[Saint3333]

Giving to the community is great, but taking money FROM the community to line your pockets and then giving a portion somewhere else back to the community doesn't sit well with many people.

If this had happened in App's favor I would be grateful for the gift (I'm sure similar things have occurred actually) but I could still see why the majority of tax payers would not be in favor of the donor's actions.

[ImfromClayton]

I never said I wasn't biased. Like it or not UNC Charlotte is inside city limits. It is a University which serves the city, and the region. I didn't make Jerry Richardson out to be some Pius man. It is a donation to the local community, though you are correct, he did not build a park in the inner city.