Over his one year as Panthers owner, David Tepper has shown he’s the agent of change the team needed.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On any given day you might see a somewhat nondescript man wearing blue jeans, a T-shirt and baseball cap walking down Mint Street toward Bank of America Stadium. He easily could be one of the plethora of people hired to keep the stadium grounds immaculate or just an average Joe out for a morning stroll.
You’d never guess David Tepper was worth $11.6 billion and the owner of the Carolina Panthers.
“He has no detail around him,” Charlotte city councilman James Mitchell said. “No bodyguards. He feels the vibe. He gets it. I call him the action man. He’s all about action.”
Until the sale of the Panthers was finalized a year ago on July 9 — for an NFL-record $2.275 billion — the organization had had one owner, founder Jerry Richardson. There was some apprehension about what to expect from Tepper, a now 61-year-old Pittsburgh native, beginning with whether he would keep the team in Charlotte.
Mitchell was among those who were apprehensive. But it didn’t take long for him to realize Tepper was not only was the right person to take over an organization embroiled in allegations of sexual misconduct by Richardson, but to be an agent of change and progress in North and South Carolina.
“It’s been like a breath of fresh air,” Mitchell said.
Local real estate developer Brian Leary, who last month led a question-and-answer session with Tepper at the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance’s inter-city trip in Pittsburgh, agreed.
David Tepper has had a busy first year as Panthers owner, built an indoor practice facility and striking a deal to move the team’s headquarters to South Carolina. John Byrum/Icon Sportswire
“David Tepper is a force of nature, while at the same time the most down-to-earth billionaire you’d probably ever meet,” Leary said as he recalled the session at Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper’s alma mater. “Force of nature can come in many forms, whether it’s the wind, the sea or the sun.
“When [Dave] comes into a room, when he shares his idea, you can’t ignore it. It’s just like the weather.”
Tepper has plenty of ideas, and he’s been quick to implement many in his first year at Carolina. He built an indoor practice facility adjacent to the stadium coach Ron Rivera and others have wanted since the Panthers’ first season in 1995.
He struck a deal for a $115 million tax break with South Carolina lawmakers to build the team headquarters, including a state-of-the-art practice facility and other world-class amenities, in nearby Rock Hill by 2022.
He hired women to head some of the most powerful positions in the organization and an in-house mental health clinician that NFL officials call a “game-changer.”
He’s made it clear the stadium will be a hub of activity from football, to concerts, to one day hosting an MLS team. He even holding a beerfest there.
Tepper also allowed Rivera and general manager Marty Hurney to sign controversial talent such as safety Eric Reid, the first player to join then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem to protest social injustice.
“David identified his priorities early on and that was winning on the field and in the community,” said team president Tom Glick, who prior to being hired by Tepper was the chief operating officer for the English Premier League’s Manchester City Football Club.
“He’s done an outstanding job of doing his homework, listening to fans and making the right adjustments to help our organization find competitive advantages.”
Tepper has been active in the community, from passing out book bags and school supplies to children to funding the West Charlotte High School basketball team’s trip to Raleigh, North Carolina for the state championship.
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Source: https://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/32277/how-panthers-owner-david-tepper-has-been-a-force-of-nature
