CHARLOTTE– Experts are saying Panthers season ticket holders could lose their permanent seat licenses after the team is sold. Right now, PSL owners are voicing their concerns.

Experts say it comes down to the language in the PSL contract. PSL owners say their agreements are tied to the stadium and not the team.

“I’m worried about the financial side of it, but that’s a risk of mine as a PSL owner. But as a fan, you know I don’t want to lose my team,” says PSL owner Christopher Cooke.

As a PSL owner, Cooke has the rights to buy tickets for specific seats. Panthers owner and founder Jerry Richardson is selling the team after the season ends – in the wake of workplace misconduct allegations. Cooke worries his Panthers family traditions could come to an end if the new owner moves the team.

“To kind of hold teams hostage and say look if you don’t pony up with tax dollars, we’re going to move somewhere else, that’s a common tactic to use,” says UNC Chapel Hill Sports Administration assistant professor Nels Popp.

Nels Popp is an expert in the field of sports business. He says new owners will want to bring in as much revenue stream as possible. Part of that could be moving to a new city that offers more incentives – or a new state of the art facility in Charlotte – that potentially includes a dome which could bring bowl games.

“The innovations in revenue streams. More club spaces, more social spaces that they can charge a premium for.”

He says he doesn’t think the new owners will be anxious to move the team from Charlotte – but doesn’t rule out the possibility.

“It’s not like keeping the team in Charlotte would be a disaster. Owners can certainly produce plenty or revenue streams by having the team stay in Charlotte .”

Christopher Cooke, says certainly he hopes so too, “”The PSL ownership is one thing, right. But my son loves going to the games, and it’s a special time we spend together.”