Carolina Panthers Partner with Piedmont Players Theatre for LOMBARDI

The Carolina Panthers will collaborate with Piedmont Players Theatre as the Producing Partner of their upcoming production of LOMBARDI, a play that follows legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.

PPT's marketing director, Josh Wainright said, "We are beyond excited to have the Panthers as a Producing Partner for this incredible story of perhaps the most well known NFL coach of all time. With the team competing in the playoffs right now, for them to even think about taking the time to help a non-profit theatre in Salisbury speaks to the amazing character of the entire franchise and we are incredibly grateful."

Owner Jerry Richardson, a native of North Carolina, was a former wide receiver on the Baltimore Colts who had used his 1959 league championship bonus to co-found the Hardee's chain of restaurants and served as president and CEO of TW Services. Richardson announced his bid for an NFL expansion franchise in 1987 and on October 23, 1993 the 28 NFL owners unanimously named the Carolina Panthers as the 29th member of the NFL. The Panthers first competed in 1995 and finished its inaugural season with the best record ever recorded by a first-year expansion NFL team. As evidenced by their motto, "Two States. One Team," the Panthers are supported throughout North and South Carolina. Their home field and headquarters is at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC and their annual training camp is held in Spartanburg, SC.

The Panthers compete in the NFL's NFC South Division. They have won 5 division titles including this season when they became the first team ever to repeat as NFC South Champions. In 2003, the Panthers reached Super Bowl xxVIII where they met the New England Patriots in what many have called one of the best Super Bowls of all time.

The Carolina Panthers support a variety of non-profits in North and South Carolina through the Carolina Panthers Charities. In addition to these team-specific efforts, the Panthers participate in a number of regular initiatives promoted by the NFL and USA Football, the league's youth football development partner. These include USA Football Month, held throughout August to encourage and promote youth football; A Crucial Catch, the league's Breast Cancer Awareness Month program; Salute to Service, held throughout November to support military families and personnel; and PLAY 60, which encourages young NFL fans to be active for at least 60 minutes each day.

"LOMBARDI opens at the Meroney Theater the Thursday before the Super Bowl (Jan 29th)," Wainright adds. "The only thing better than having the Panthers as a Piedmont Players Producing Partner would be the team lifting the Lombardi Trophy following the Super Bowl on Opening Weekend! Go Panthers!"

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