Speedway
Motorsports CEO Bruton Smith told WBT-AM radio host Keith Larson Tuesday that he
is interested in buying the NFL’s Carolina Panthers from owner Jerry Richardson.
Richardson said
recently that he intends to make $300 million in improvements to Bank of
America Stadium, and wants the city of Charlotte and state of North Carolina to
foot much of the bill. In return, he offered to keep the team in Charlotte for
the next 15 years. If he is unable to secure public funding, Richardson said
the team could be sold following his death and moved to another city.
Smith, who threatened
to move Charlotte Motor Speedway out of Concord when city officials balked at
his plan to build Z-MAX Dragway in 2007, told Larson that he is interested in
buying the Panthers, saying, “Do you think he is interested in selling? If the
price is right, I’d be interested.”
Smith also
pledged to run the team and BoA Stadium with no public funding, saying, “I
would commit to the city – and I would not ask for money.”
Smith said he
has not spoken to Richardson about a possible sale of the team.
Boy, Bruton is like bad breath, he never goes away! I still feel a bit of frustration toward his opinions at times, but theres no doubt his investment into buisness ventures is good for sports...be it NASCAR, NHRA, or otherwise. Hey, it gets fans talking!
ReplyDeleteWell if this were to go down I'd find another team. Bruton has not and will not get any of my hard earned money.
ReplyDelete