Roger Goodell Hopes New Panthers Owners Don't Want to Relocate from Carolina

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed hope Wednesday that the Carolina Panthers will remain in their current market under new ownership. 

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Goodell said owners believe Carolina is a great market and added that it's "a market we’d like to stay in."

Goodell also said he thinks owners across the league want the Panthers to remain in Carolina.

The Panthers remain under the ownership of Jerry Richardson, but that will soon change.

In December, Richardson announced that he would sell the team at the conclusion of the 2017 season amid allegations of workplace misconduct.

Jon Wertheim and Viv Bernstein of The MMQB reported on the allegations in December, and noted that at least four former Panthers staffers received settlements related to Richardson's "inappropriate workplace comments and conduct."

The 81-year-old Richardson, who spent two seasons as a player with the Baltimore Colts, purchased the expansion Panthers in 1993.

They entered the NFL in 1995 and have since gone on to win six division titles, reach the playoffs on eight occasions and play in the Super Bowl twice.

Carolina went 11-5 in 2017 and fell to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Wild Card Round of the postseason.