City feels bad management is responsible for team's woes
By "Bucky Katz"

Off-Season 2158 (Charlotte) - Sources close to the negotiations between the City of Charlotte and the Carolina Panthers concerning a new stadium have revealed that the city's mayor believes that improper management of the team is responsible for the team's current financial woes and not the need for a new stadium for the team to play in.

Mayor E.F. 'Bubba' Crankston III confirmed the reports when asked by the local media.

'It is obvious that mismanagement of the team is responsible for their problems,' Crankston confirmed when asked. 'They don't need a new stadium, they need someone better to run the team.'

It is no secret that the Panthers have been rebuilding the past few seasons after a 13-1 club failed to get them to a Sundby Cup before key players began retiring. But the comments were still shocking to league observers.

'No one is coming because the team stinks,' Crankston went on to say. 'That's why they aren't making money, no one will pay to watch them.'

When presented with the fact that the Panthers play in the league's oldest facility and the lack of modern 22nd century conveniences there, the mayor moved on to other subjects.

'That doesn't matter,' the mayor offered. 'It's still a nice stadium...and it's paid for.'

Panthers GM 'Trader' Lee Remley was obviously incensed when asked about Cranskton's comments by the media, but chose the better part of valor.

'My employment situation is between me and ownership,' Remley snapped in reply to the question. 'Period.'

Then the Panthers general manager read from a prepared statement.

'We have presented the obvious need for a new stadium for the Panthers to the city and were, as you know, rebuffed,' Remley read from the statement. 'The fact that the leadership of this city refuses to see this need is an obvious problem.'

'However, we are not going to resolve this by snippy sound bites in the media,' Remley went on. 'So the Panthers organization will no longer comment on this matter. The USAFL offices will have an announcement on this situation if and when it comes time for one to be made.'

All questions went unanswered after that as the press conference ended as quickly as it began.

No one in the local media knows what to make of this. Will this situation get worked out on a higher level now? Or will the Panthers move on to a now unknown plan B?

It is no secret that the USAFL will be realigning and relocating franchises after the 2159 season, which adds even more to the speculation.

Charlotte citizens are now buzzing about the future of their football team.

Whatever that may be.