Carolina Panthers: Can Spartanburg make their push to save training camp?

The city wants to keep the Carolina Panthers where they’re at….

Let me start by saying this: I have total respect for anyone who wants to keep Carolina Panthers training camp in Spartanburg. After all, it has been a staple every summer for many Carolina Panthers fans. There are many people who aim to keep the team there, including figures with close ties to the place.

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Late Friday, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports wrote a piece detailing the fact that many local figures in the area want the Spartanburg camp to stay. There are obvious economic benefits to having the training camp there as it generates over $40 million in revenue to the area.

Aside from that, many love camp being there as it is one of the only ones in the league still at a college facility. The intimacy of the camp due it being so small is also a plus as fans can get close to all the action.

“It’s been an incredible benefit to the area, for the fans and for the team,” said Michael Brown of Spartanburg County Council. “If you can hang on to a long-standing tradition like that, that gives hope to young people, that’s good for everyone.”

I can certainly see where they are coming from. It is not like I want an entire area to lose a tradition. It is partly because of tradition that the Carolina Panthers should move. Wofford had meaning to Jerry Richardson. There was an emotional attachment there. In the case of Tepper, there is no attachment and he would not necessarily have the same feeling of nostalgia Richardson did. Partly out of respect to the tradition there, moving out of Wofford would be the smartest thing to do.

As I wrote about the other day, a new practice facility on-site would be very beneficial for the Carolina Panthers. Many teams have done it and it would be a step in the right direction. It would-be a lot easier for the fans to get to and allow for even more excitement. This would allow Tepper to begin to put his stamp on things and allow him to start a tradition of his own. This would be a good business decision and once fans warmed up to it, I think they would enjoy it too.

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It will be interesting to see if Spartanburg officials make a bigger push to keep training camp there in the coming years. One thing is certain: The fans will be there no matter where training camp goes.

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