Charlotte Checkers sold to Florida-based group
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The Charlotte Checkers majority ownership has been sold to Zawyer Sports + Entertainment, the team announced at a press conference Monday morning.
Why it matters: This is the third Charlotte team sold since June 2023, joining the Charlotte Hornets and the Charlotte Knights.
State of play: Florida-based Zawyer Sports + Entertainment joined the Checkers' ownership group in February as a minority owner. The group, which also owns Gastonia Baseball, will be the majority owner starting Oct. 1.
- Checkers CEO Michael Kahn, who brought the team to Charlotte, will remain a minority owner.
- The Checkers' entire staff will stay in place, Kahn told reporters.
Zoom out: The Checkers are the American Hockey League affiliate for reigning Stanley Cup champions the Florida Panthers. The Panthers have a multi-year affiliation agreement with the Checkers and the Savannah Ghost Pirates in the ECHL (a tier below the AHL).
- Zawyer Sports + Entertainment also owns the Ghost Pirates.
The intrigue: The Checkers were the longtime affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes. Their relationship ended in 2020 on sour terms.
- The Checkers' affiliation with the Panthers runs another 5-6 years, Kahn said.
- Kahn praised their relationship with the Panthers, adding the Stanley Cup will visit Charlotte in the fall.
Between the lines: The Checkers' ownership group has 18 people, including Panthers player J. J. Jansen, former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow and NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick.
- Jansen, who has lived in Charlotte for 15 years, is part of the ownership for both the Checkers and Gastonia Baseball.
The big picture: Charlotte is in the midst of a sports facility renaissance, from stadiums and arenas to practice facilities.
- Renovations are being considered for Bojangles Coliseum, as CBJ reported earlier this year.
- As for a standalone practice facility, Zawyer Sports + Entertainment owner and CEO Andy Kaufmann didn't provide a timetable, but he did indicate that a potential practice facility could go somewhere in north Charlotte.
- Kaufmann referenced the Community First Igloo in Jacksonville, Florida, which Zawyer Sports + Entertainment bought and renovated for $24 million. In Port Wentworth, just outside of Savannah, the group will break ground next month on a facility for the Ghost Pirates.
What they're saying: Kaufmann told reporters they're "wide open" to a future facility being a public-private partnership, but the ultimate goal is to "bring ice to the community," he says.
- Charlotte doesn't have a public ice rink. The two closest are in Pineville and Indian Trail, both about 30 minutes from Uptown.
The bottom line: The Checkers are one of Charlotte's most successful pro teams and they have a championship to prove it. Now it's time to see what their next chapter holds.
What's next: The Checkers open their upcoming season on Oct. 12 at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Charlotte's home opener is Oct. 18 vs. the Cleveland Monsters at Bojangles Coliseum. Find the full schedule here.