Another setback has unfolded regarding a failed $800 million headquarters and training facility for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers in Rock Hill, South Carolina. 

A federal judge has rejected a settlement plan for GT Real Estate — a development arm controlled by Panthers owner David Tepper — that filed for bankruptcy in June after investing more than $170 million toward the construction of the ill-fated project. 

Two months later, GT Real Estate submitted a plan to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to repay creditors and resolve all claims. The judge refused to approve the plan over third-party releases, which would prevent creditors from pursuing legal claims against third parties. 

• Plans for the facility included a 5,000-seat stadium and indoor practice center.
• Construction began in 2020 and was halted in March after a missed payment. 

In November, Rock Hill agreed to a $20 million settlement with GT Real Estate, which equates to what the city invested. Earlier this month, York County — where Rock Hill is located — agreed to its own $21 million settlement over sales tax money allocated toward the project. 

Steady Plans  

NFL owners approved an abundance of items on Wednesday related to the construction of new stadiums and upgrades of current ones.

Items related to the proposal of a new $2.1 billion stadium for the Tennessee Titans and a $1.4 billion stadium for the Buffalo Bills were approved, sources told Front Office Sports. Owners also sanctioned the extension of the Bills’ lease at their current home, Highmark Stadium.

A second report is putting the NWSL under fire.

The NWSL and NWSLPA’s joint investigation unit issued a final report on Wednesday, a year after allegations of sexual coercion, abuse, and harassment were made public.  

Despite finding that the NWSL “increased efforts to eradicate misconduct, embraced greater accountability, and experienced a culture shift regarding behaviors that are no longer tolerated” since the team began its work, there were reports of ongoing misconduct at more than half the league’s clubs during the investigation.

The report found that club staff in positions of power made sexual remarks, pressured weight loss, made racial jokes, and “created volatile and manipulative working conditions,” among other forms of harassment. 

• It noted the staff “engaged in retaliation against players who attempted to report or did report concerns.”
• The league failed to establish what was considered misconduct, how to clearly report misconduct, and the clubs, league, and federation didn’t sufficiently share information.

The Portland Thorns, Racing Louisville, the Chicago Red Stars, the North Carolina Courage, the Houston Dash, the Washington Spirit, and the Kansas City Current were among the teams mentioned in the report.

A separate investigation by former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates on behalf of the U.S. Soccer Federation reported similar results in October.

Report Recommendations

The report gave six recommendations, including strengthening anti-harassment policies, developing and enforcing guidelines that address appropriate interactions between club staff and players, and enhancing reporting and investigation procedures.

A legal battle regarding the sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been resolved. 

Wildfire Productions — a former limited partner of the Penguins — filed a pair of lawsuits in December 2021 to block the sale of the NHL franchise to current owner Fenway Sports Group. 

Wildfire alleged that the team’s former majority owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux actively denied limited partners from collecting information and providing input on the deal. On Wednesday, Wildfire settled the lawsuits and as a result relinquished its stake in the Penguins.

Terms of the settlements were not disclosed.

• FSG purchased the Penguins in a deal valued at roughly $900 million.
• The sports holding company also owns the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool. 
• Wildfire brought suits against FSG in Pennsylvania and Team Lemieux LLC in Delaware.

Burkle and Lemieux purchased the Penguins in 1999 for $107 million. The former majority owners have retained minority stakes in the team and FSG kept the team’s core leadership intact. Lemieux, a Penguins legend and the NHL’s eighth-place all-time points leader, continues to oversee the team’s hockey operations.

Soaring Value 

Forbes unveiled its list of the most valuable NHL teams in 2022 — and the Penguins are valued at $990 million — the 15th-most-valuable NHL franchise.

The NHL’s 32 teams are now worth a record $1.03 billion on average — a 19% increase year-over-year — behind increased media revenue and team-related transactions. The New York Rangers sit at the top of the league at $2.2 billion, marking the Blueshirts’ eighth straight year at No. 1.