CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers sale is shaping up to be one of the largest in team sports history, and the implications for Charlotte are immense.
[ Panthers owner Jerry Richardson to sell team at end of season ]
Eyewitness News investigative reporter Paul Boyd has been looking into the latest list of potential buyers.
A vote on the new owner of the Carolina Panthers is set to happen in about 53 days.
[ Carolina Panthers: NFL commissioner wants team to stay in Charlotte ]
The clock is officially ticking for Jerry Richardson to announce the winning bid.
"It's moving along with unprecedented interest," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday.
ESPN Charlotte talk radio host Molly Cotten is following every development surrounding the sale of the Panthers.
"He never actually clarified what 'unprecedented interest' means,” Cotten said. “There's been different rumors that there are six bidders and that there are only three serious bidders."
Those potential bidders include David Tepper, Ben Navarro, Michael Rubin and Alan Kestenbaum.
They visited Charlotte on Wednesday.
ESPN.com is reporting a current top bid of $2.2 billion for the franchise.
Bloomberg reported there's also a $2.5 billion offer on the table.
NFL officials said they want to vote on the new owner during their next meeting in Atlanta in May.