Carolina Panthers Fans Getting Screwed Out Of Home Game Next Year
The NFL and their “Global Markets Program.” On paper here’s what that means. The NFL awards international marketing rights to franchises in countries outside the US to try and grow their and the league’s brand. In other words, it’s all about the most profitable sports league in the history of the world making even more money elsewhere.
What it means for the casual fan is, “Cool, there’s a game coming on at 9am that I can watch” (most of these games occur in either England or Germany). Here’s what it means for the team that’s designated as the “home” team. That team’s fans get screwed out of a local home game. Now, wait for it, guess what team has been designated as the home team for an NFL game in Munich, Germany next season. If you’re answer is your Carolina Panthers, give yourself a prize.
The full NFL schedule doesn’t get released until late spring (April/May), so we don’t know exactly when the game will occur or who the Panthers’ opponent will be. I’m not a season ticket holder, so it’s really no skin off my nose. That being said, if I’m paying for 8-9 home games a year and one is taken off the table (and you can bet with no reduction in price), I’m beyond miffed.
The Carolina Panthers need to BUILD UP good will with their fans, not do something like this. Of course, who is the leader of the tone-deaf parade on this matter? If you guessed Panthers’ owner David Tepper, you’ve just earned another prize.
“It’s an honor for the Carolina Panthers to play in Munich in 2024,” Panthers owner David Tepper said to WBTV. “This game represents more than playing internationally for us. With more than 200 German-owned companies in the Charlotte area, this opportunity offers a special connection for the Panthers and our community.”
Let me translate this for Mr. Tepper-who still doesn’t get it. In other words, Boss, this is what we hear. “It’s thrilling for me put our mediocre product on display in Germany and milk their citizens out of their hard-earned cash. God knows, I’ve gotten good at it here, right? Anyway, it’s not like any of you were flocking to the games at the end of last year anyway, so what do you care? By the way, those season ticket and PSL renewals are in the mail. You’re welcome.”
Then again, if you’ve got the means and want to make a once-in-a-lifetime trip out of this, go for it. Here’s where you can get ticket information.
Three Outside The Box Options To Be The Next Carolina Panthers Coach
By now, you are well aware that the Carolina Panthers fired their head coach, Frank Reich, after just eleven games. It’s been a rough year so far, sitting at the bottom of the NFC South at 1-10. However, there are three potential new coaches who might be able to completely turn the Panthers around.
To set the stage here, let’s get right to the point. These are three outside-the-box and unconventional choices. Meaning, I have gotten away from the standard process of backfilling an NFL coaching vacancy with simply another NFL coach.
With all due respect to interim head coach Chris Tabor, let’s assume “interim” will be taken seriously. Tabor was previously the team’s special teams coordinator. So, here, we are thinking outside of the organization to fill Reich’s seat.
But Why?
There are three reasons I am considering a “curveball” method. To start, owner David Tepper is a unique personality. Tepper has been known to make quick and instinctive decisions. Furthermore, he is heavily involved (and invested) in the team’s success. Reich apparently had to meet with Tepper after each game to review what had transpired. The second reason for my choices here is simply because I believe these NFL minds would actually be great at this gig. Now, I have zero NFL experience. However, I did play football for ten years, and I have actually interacted with two of the three options listed.
Lastly, we’ve seen a few out-of-the-ordinary NFL coaching choices in the past few seasons. Though he did not get the job, the Indianapolis Colts hired their previous Pro Bowl Center, Jeff Saturday, to be their interim coach last season. Saturday had never been an NFL coach previously.
So, yes, it would be simple for me to suggest common (and very worthy) names like Ben Johnson, the Offensive Coordinator for the Detroit Lions, or Steve Wilks, current Defensive Coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers (with a Panthers history). Nonetheless, let’s follow Tepper’s path of taking a calculated risk. Here are three creative options for the Carolina Panthers to consider hiring as their next head coach.
Charlie Nance is the Afternoon Drive co-host (along with his wife) of "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple have been with the radio station since 2006. Charlie has won the prestigious CMA (Country Music Association) Award for Radio Personality of the Year and has been a finalist for the Country Radio Hall of Fame four times. Prior to his time in Charlotte, Charlie (along with Debbie) spent more than a decade hosting successful morning radio shows in Greenville, SC; Augusta, Ga; and Birmingham, Al. As a content creator for Country 1037, Charlie writes about dream lottery windfalls, sports, restaurants and bars, and travel experiences in North and South Carolina.
