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Panthers leave for New Orleans with support in Charlotte

By Mark Barber and DaShawn Brown, wsoctv.com
By Mark Barber and DaShawn Brown, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers arrived in New Orleans Saturday afternoon.

The players and coaches settled in, had team meetings and now await their Sunday afternoon playoff game against NFC South rival New Orleans Saints in the wild-card round at the Superdome.

Panthers fans arrived in the Big Easy Saturday beaming with excitement, with their team in the postseason for the fourth time in the past five years.

Back home in Charlotte, fans gathered Saturday at the Unknown Brewing Company near uptown to give the team a proper send off.

Fans were showing their pompoms and signs to show support for the local professional football team.

Fans bellowed with energy the moment the Panthers team buses passed.

“Just so they know, when they're surrounded by an entire Superdome filled with Saints fans, that there's plenty of people back home pulling just as hard for them,” Panthers fan Salvatore Pecorella said,

A lot of fans who came out also received some Panthers swag just in time for game day,

“Bring it to the Carolinas, two states, one team, baby,” Panthers fan Shannon Grady said. “Keep Pounding.”

An energetic pep rally and tailgate was also held Friday morning at the Carmel Country Club in south Charlotte.

Even though it’s an exciting time for fans, it’s also a very turbulent one because no one knows who will buy the Panthers once the season is over.

[Panthers owner Jerry Richardson to sell team at end of season]

[Panthers sale sparks buzz in political, business circles]

[Limited team owners could purchase Panthers, or sell team]

Many of the people at Friday’s pep rally own permanent seat licenses to the Panthers’ games at Bank of America Stadium.

Their investment helped finance the stadium when it was built, so if the new Panthers owner moves the team out of Charlotte, they will lose those seat licenses.

“It’s an unbelievable investment, but it’s paid off for us. We love it,” PSL owner Peggy Schug said. “We have four seats. We go every game. Rain, hail, sleet or snow, we are there. It’s going to be different, it’s going to be a change, but I don’t want to think about that yet. Let’s get through this season.”

Hall of Famer and former Buffalo Bills player Andre Reed said it’s impossible for fans to predict what happens next.

“Who knows what’s going to happen,” Reed said.

The Panthers play in New Orleans at 4:40 p.m. Sunday. The Saints already beat the Panthers twice this season.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said no matter what happens with the season, or with the sale of the team, fans need to keep showing up.

"We want to show that we're here in good times and bad times,” Lyles said. “I hope they understand how committed we are to the kind of energy and community that the Panthers build for us."

Lyles said she wishes she was in charge of selling the Panthers, but she said she doesn't have any insight into who will buy the team because that's strictly between the owner and the NFL.

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