New Panthers owner contractually obligated to keep Richardson statue standing

At his introductory press conference, new Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper announced a new day has dawned on the franchise, but stark symbols of the past will remain.

Tepper was asked if the 13-foot statue of former owner Jerry Richardson will continue to stand outside Bank of America Stadium.

"I'm contractually obligated to keep that statue as it is," Tepper said.

Richardson, the founder of the franchise, agreed to sell the team in December after reports of his misconduct in the workplace came to light. The sale of the team to Tepper, for a reported cost of $2.2 billion, officially closed on Monday.

Though the reminder of the past will stay, Tepper intends on running the franchise with a different vision.

"That was then. This is now," Tepper said. "I can't emphasize enough the openness I plan to have in this organization. There's going to be no impediment to that in the future."