CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The potential sale of the Carolina Panthers could now reach $2.5 billion, according to Bloomberg.
Such a steep price tag seems to be too high for one bidder, though. ESPN reports that Fanatics owner Michael Rubin is no longer in the running to buy the franchise.
ESPN previously reported that Charlotte native Stephen Curry and rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs were part of Rubin's group, but now sources said they were never confirmed partners in the bid.
ESPN was also reporting that Rubin could still return to the bidding process.
Three groups have already submitted bids, including Pittsburgh Steelers minority owner David Tepper, South Carolina businessman Ben Navarro and equity firm CEO Alan Kestenbaum.
RELATED ARTICLES:
- New bidder emerges in race to buy Panthers
- Panthers owner Jerry Richardson to sell team at end of season
- Sabates: 'We're not doing this just to play in the owner's box
- Carolina Panthers: NFL commissioner wants team to stay in Charlotte
- Two emerge as leaders to bid on Panthers, according to reports
- Panthers Sale: After playoff loss, what's next for team?
A source also told ESPN that Salisbury native James Goodnight, the co-founder and CEO of the software company SAS, has shown interest in purchasing the Panthers. It is not clear whether Goodnight, valued by Forbes at $10 billion, has made a bid.
The Panthers are valued by Forbes at $2.3 billion. The record for the sale of a professional sports franchise in the United States is the Houston Rockets, who were sold for $2.2 billion in 2017.
Richardson, 81, announced in December plans to put the team up for sale amidst an NFL investigation into allegations of sexual and racial workplace misconduct.
He stepped down from the day-to-day operations of the organization after a Sports Illustrated article detailed the allegations. Tina Becker was named the chief operating officer.
After Richardson selects his choice for the winning bid, three-fourths of the 32 NFL owners have to approve the sale. The most likely time frame for that, ESPN reported last month, is the May 21-23 meetings in Atlanta.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- Man killed; wife, 2 children hurt after ambulance hits car head-on in Chester Co.
- Brothers charged in 2017 shooting that seriously injured mail carrier
- School district cuts one day off school week; students will only go for four days a week
- WATCH: Keith Monday's Thursday forecast outlook
- Raleigh mother arrested after video of baby smoking pot goes viral
- Man shot to death in parking lot of Charlotte apartment complex
Cox Media Group