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 .
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