Headline sports broadcaster, Chris Russo, renowned for his fiery commentary on ESPN’s First Take, voiced his outrage towards team owner David Tepper and the Carolina Panthers over the increase in ticket prices for 2024.
Chris Russo shreds Panthers’ David Tepper over ‘utter disgrace’ ticket price increase: ‘You should give them the games for FREE!’ https://t.co/MLADvK4Lcz pic.twitter.com/DzMJyEq7m7
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 28, 2024
Known for his no-holds-barred commentary and outspoken character, Russo’s rant triggered a wave of anti-Panthers sentiment in the live studio.
The announcement that the Carolina Panthers are increasing ticket prices for the upcoming season sparked Russo’s outrage.
Chris Russo is taking up for Carolina Panthers fans everywhere by unloading on David Tepper for raising the team's ticket prices by 4%. pic.twitter.com/xaNZmJPHCM
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 28, 2024
“How ’bout Carolina and Tepper charging a four percent ticket increase for next year for the Panthers,” began Russo. “I mean—you’re not serious, are you? With this God-forbidden franchise that stinks, when you’re firing head coaches, when you’re telling everyone who to draft on draft day, including (Bryce) Young instead of C.J. Stroud?
“And I loved Young too, but that was a mistake. In a market that cares more about college basketball than the NFL? In the stadium—that’s a little old—you’re gonna make them ante up four percent more?
“I don’t care what the percentage is. You should give them the games for FREE! And for exhibition games, you’re gonna make them pay for it when you guys make a fortune? The NFL prints money, and you’re gonna change those poor Panthers fans four percent more?
“Four percent—that is a complete, utter disgrace. And for an owner who has absolutely no good PR, that’s the last thing you do to your fanbase off a lousy year, when you’re throwing water in Jacksonville at the fans because you’re upset that you lost to the Jaguars.
“‘You know what? I got an idea to fix our problem. Let’s charge them more money to see the garage that we put on the field.’ I don’t know who came up with that idea; you give them a discount off that kind of season, not a price increase.”
Despite the team’s dismal performance in the previous seasons, achieving only two wins, the news of the price rise was seen as a slap in the face to loyal fans.
According to The Associated Press, the most noticeable change will be in the pricing for lower-level seating, with a significant 7% increase for permanent seat license holders.
“The shift in upper-level prices appears less dramatic, with a modest blend increase less than 1%, leaving 90% of those seats unchanged.
The lower level seating at Bank of America Stadium will see the most significant impact, with season ticket prices increasing by an average of 7% from last year for permanent seat license owners, according to a team spokesman. The upper level seating will see a blended increase of less than 1%, with 90% of those ticket prices remaining flat.
Premium tickets, which includes club seats and suites, will increase based on the terms in their contracts.”
Despite his newness to the team, Tepper has rapidly gained a reputation amongst fans and analysts alike for his heavy-handed involvement in the daily operations of the team.
This micro-management style has some critics suggesting that it’s been one of the key factors leading to a period of instability within the club.
Speculators have traced the team’s diminishing success back to Tepper’s momentous acquisition in 2018.
His tenure has seen a quick turnover of six head coaches, and the recent hire of Dave Canales, marking his seventh appointment.
Tepper’s high-involvement approach has jeopardized the credibility of a once highly respected franchise, morphing it into a pervasive laughingstock.
His brash acts include an incident where he was witnessed throwing a beverage at a Jaguars’ fan.
Due to the recent underwhelming team performance, fans are likely to feel stung at the news of increased ticket prices.
Coupled with the ongoing instability surrounding the team’s management, it remains to be seen what impact this decision will have on fan loyalty and the future of this once-beloved franchise.
