NFL commissioner wants Panthers to stay in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he wants the Carolina Panthers to stay in Charlotte.

The sale of the Panthers has raised questions on whether the team will stay in the Queen City.

“All of us and the owners believe Carolina is a great market,” Goodell said at his annual Super Bowl news conference. “It's a market we would like to stay in and we hope the franchise owner that's eventually selected will have that view.”

[RELATED: Panthers owner Jerry Richardson to sell team at end of season]

Goodell also said the investigation into the misconduct allegations against owner Jerry Richardson are ongoing. That investigation is headed by Mary Jo White, the former chairwoman of the Securities and Exchange Commission under former President Barack Obama.

Goodell added that the Panthers are cooperating in the investigation.

Charlotte city leaders have been told that the sale of the Panthers could come quickly after Super Bowl Sunday.

Rumors have swirled about investors showing interest but city Councilman James Mitchell said the field has narrowed to six.

"I think that it has been very clear from those that we have spoken to that there are two local groups and the other four are outside of the state of North Carolina," Mitchell said.

Mitchell also said the NFL has expressed strong interest in having a minority partner as a member of the new ownership group.

He stressed that the city has a "no" vote.

League owners will vote, hoping to have new ownership in place before the NFL draft in April.

Richardson announced plans to sell the team after it was revealed that he is being investigated over allegations of workplace misconduct.

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