What is “Mad Dog” mad about today? The Carolina Panthers raising ticket prices.
On Wednesday, ESPN analyst Chris Russo blew up at a recent report that stated the Panthers planned to raise ticket prices by “slightly more than four percent” going into the 2024 NFL season.
Russo skewered the Panthers in a scathing two-minute rant for having the audacity to make such a move. Carolina is coming off a 2—15 campaign which consisted of mediocre quarterback play from Alabama product Bryce Young and a midseason head coach sacking, among other bumps along the road.
“You’re not serious, are you?” Russo said on First Take. “With this god-forbidden franchise that stinks, when you’re firing head coaches, when you’re telling everybody who to draft on draft day, in a market that cares more about college basketball than the NFL? In a stadium that’s a little old, and you’re going to make them ante up 4% more?
“I don’t care what the percentage is. You should give them the games for free!”
Chris Russo is taking up for Carolina Panthers fans everywhere by unloading on David Tepper for raising the team's ticket prices by 4%. pic.twitter.com/xaNZmJPHCM
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 28, 2024
The sports radio legend added that he thought the Panthers made a mistake in drafting Young instead of C.J. Stroud with the No. 1 pick last April, not to mention the king’s ransom they gave up for the No. 1 pick in the first place. Carolina does not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft.
Russo also took a swipe at Panthers owner David Tepper, who went viral for throwing a drink on opposing fans during the season.
“That is a complete utter disgrace,” continued Russo. “And for an owner who has absolutely no good PR. That’s the last thing you do to your fanbase after a lousy year when you’re throwing water in Jacksonville at the fans because you’re upset that you lost to the Jaguars. … You give them a discount off that kind of a season. Not a price increase.”
Fans who take the plunge on the pricier tickets for next season will no doubt hope to see improvements under new general manager Dan Morgan and coach Dave Canales.
Winning can come at a cost, but apparently, losing does too.
