Statue of Jerry Richardson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Jerry Richardson |
|
|---|---|
| Artist | Todd Andrews |
| Year | 2016 |
| Subject | Jerry Richardson |
| Dimensions | 3.96 m (12 ft. 10 in) |
| Condition | Removed |
| Location | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
A statue of Jerry Richardson was placed outside Charlotte, North Carolina's Bank of America Stadium in 2016. Jerry Richardson used to own the National Football League team, the Carolina Panthers. The statue was removed in June 2020. This happened because people were worried it might be damaged during protests.
Contents
About the Statue and Its History
A Special Gift for the Panthers' Founder
The statue was a present for Jerry Richardson's 80th birthday. It came from the other owners of the Carolina Panthers team. The statue was very tall, about 13 feet high. It stood near the main entrance of Bank of America Stadium.
What the Statue Looked Like
The statue showed Jerry Richardson wearing a suit. He was holding a football. On each side of him, there was a life-sized black panther. These panther statues had green eyes.
Why the Statue Was Removed
Protests and Team Ownership Changes
In 2016, some football players started protesting during the U.S. National Anthem. They were protesting against police brutality. Some Panthers players, like Tre Boston, said that Jerry Richardson did not want his players to join these protests.
Later, after the 2017 season, Jerry Richardson had to sell the team. This was because of concerns about his behavior towards team employees. When David Tepper bought the Panthers, he had to keep the statue. This was part of the agreement to buy the team. Many fans did not like this.
The Statue's Final Removal
In 2020, there were many protests across the country, including the George Floyd protests. Because of these events, the Panthers management decided to take the statue down. They moved it to a hidden place to keep it safe.
The Statue's Future
The Panthers organization does not plan to put the statue back up. Jerry Richardson's spokesperson said that he has "moved on." The statue is "not his focus" anymore. Tre Boston, a former player, said that taking the statue down was "best for the community."
