CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Initial bids for the sale of the Carolina Panthers are in and four, possibly five, legitimate candidates have emerged. A report by Bloomberg said the bidding already has reached $2.5 billion, which would be a record for a sports franchise in the United States. Sources close to the process question whether that is a legitimate offer or an attempt by bankers to drive up the price. Those sources believe the bids are in the low $2 billion range for the team valued by Forbes at $2.3 billion.
This is where the sale of the Panthers stands heading into the NFL owners meetings that begin on Sunday and run through Wednesday.