As this DNC 2012 thing starts to roll down hill, you gotta believe missives have been sent to Jerry Richardson for the use of BAC Stadium. In fact, if DNC site stasi are due in town by the end of the month, the Big Cat is a vital part of the overall pitch.
Barack Obama delivered his acceptance speech at 76,000 seat Invesco Field in Denver in 2008. The stated reason was to allow the maximum number of attendees. This sets something of bar for 2012, especially considering how cramped Time Warner Arena would be for such an event. Denver’s Pepsi Arena could seat 21,000 for the convention and Obama still went larger. The Uptown space will struggle to hit 17,000 when similarly configured for networks and delegates.
Although he and wife Rosalind are both registered unaffiliated, the Big Cat has contributed to the campaigns of Democrats Dan Clodfelter, Marc Basnight, Erskine Bowles, and Roy Cooper over the years. And Richardson also permitted his franchise to come down big on the side of the pro-transit tax Uptown crowd in 2007, loaning Mike Minter and Jon Richardson for a TV ad while giving thousands to the anti-repeal effort.
Still, handing the keys to the Panther home base to the DNC would be quite the in-kind contribution for someone who has also backed Sue Myrick and Robin Hayes over the years.
I could see this going either way.
