The NFL Panthers "launched a charm offensive" Thursday in Columbia, S.C., in an attempt to "jump-start a stalled incentives bill" that would provide $108M to the team for a new practice and business HQ in South Carolina, according to Erik Spanberg of the CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Panthers coach Ron Rivera, current and former players and mascot Sir Purr "sat in the galleries of the House and Senate, posed for photos after a brief meeting with S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster and roamed the halls during a half-day visit" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/11). In Columbia, Jeffrey Collins notes the incentives bill is "currently stalled in the Senate" after state Sen. Dick Harpootlian "hired a private economist who disagreed with the state Commerce Department’s analysis of the impact of creating a new facility for the Panthers." The economist suggests that the "real impact" would be closer to $1.1B rather than the $3.8B impact the Commerce Department suggested. Collins notes McMaster is an "enthusiastic backer" of building a facility for the Panthers, and team Owner David Tepper "wants an indoor facility built as soon as possible" (Columbia STATE, 4/12).
