The statue of Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson is being removed from Bank of America Stadium.
WSOC-TV reporter Joe Bruno broke the news on Twitter on Wednesday, reporting that The Department of Transportation was closing the road in front of the stadium in order to remove the statue.
BREAKING: The Jerry Richardson statue is coming down. Charlotte DOT is about the close the road near Bank of America Stadium to allow the work to happen pic.twitter.com/WBagBz2i2p
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) June 10, 2020
A Panthers’ official told WSOC that active construction would take place Wednesday to move the statue. The Charlotte DOT said it will be keeping the road near the statue, South Graham Street, closed until 8 p.m.
A source confirmed to WSOC reporter DaShawn Brown that the statue of Richardson was being moved to an undisclosed location because of “public safety concerns.”
The Panthers later tweeted, “We were aware of the most recent conversation surrounding the Jerry Richardson statue and are concerned there may be attempts to take it down. We are moving the statue in the interest of public safety.”
We were aware of the most recent conversation surrounding the Jerry Richardson statue and are concerned there may be attempts to take it down. We are moving the statue in the interest of public safety.
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) June 10, 2020
As part of his deal to buy the Panthers in 2018, current owner David Tepper said he was “contractually obligated” to keep the 13-foot statue where it stands outside the stadium. The city of Charlotte owns the land, and the Panthers pay $1 in rent each year.
Before selling the team, Richardson, 86, faced allegations of workplace misconduct. An NFL investigation found that Richardson made payouts for workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment and once used a racial slur. On June 28, 2018, Richardson was fined $2.75 million for workplace misconduct.
Crane is being lowered pic.twitter.com/4uqTst54t2
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) June 10, 2020
Reached for comment Wednesday, Richardson’s spokesperson, Jim Gray offered the following statement:
“Mr. Richardson has made no public comments about the Panthers or the NFL since the sale of the team and doesn’t plan to do so now as a private citizen. He has worked to treat all people fairly in his business and personal lives and, like many other Americans, is troubled by recent events in Minneapolis, Charlotte and around the country.”
Richardson brought NFL football to the Carolinas in 1993 when he became the first former NFL player since George Halas to own a team. The Panthers began playing two years later in 1995.
The statue was a gift from the Panthers LLC minority partners to Richardson for his 80th birthday.
Cox Media Group
