As Charlotte contemplates free money for David Tepper, “or else” looms.

On the scale of “owners most likely to pack up and leave if they don’t get what they want,” David Tepper would be at the top.

That’s an important point for authorities to keep in mind as the Charlotte City Council prepares to take over the matter later this month Tepper asked for $650 million in free money To upgrade the stadium where the Panthers play.

Scott Fowler Charlotte Observerthe famous Tipper instigator, defends Give Tipper what he wants. The logic is simple. If Charlotte doesn’t do that, he will leave the Panthers, along with his Charlotte FC MLS team. Charlotte will then try to get another NFL team to replace the Panthers, at a cost far exceeding the $650 million Tepper wants.

Public sentiment, as reflected in unreliable online comments, is 85 percent (in Fowler’s estimate) against the proposal. However, not giving Tepper the money makes it more than 85 percent certain that it will go somewhere. (The best hope is that his aggressive, power-grabbing personality, which includes belligerently throwing alcoholic beverages and marginally hostile hat-removing, can be an impediment to getting taxpayer money elsewhere.)

Fowler’s request, a smart one, is for the board to seek a commitment longer than 2039 from Tepper, in exchange for money. That’s just 15 years later, and that’s when the bill becomes bigger to renovate, or perhaps replace, Tepper Stadium.

All of this is happening at a time when the public mood seems less supportive than ever to support billionaire athletes. For the NFL, the increasing value of franchises will make it more difficult to convince the average person to feel good about Dennis Moore’s approach to stadium financing.

Steal from the poor and give to the rich.

The people on Charlotte City Council need to think about it this way. And they shouldn’t be too upset about the prospect of Tepper leaving.

Really, where will he go? Which community would spend billions to build a new stadium?

The Chiefs are currently benefiting from a Missouri vs. Kansas-style border battle. Fortunately for Charlotte, Tipper has already done it The bridge leading to Rock Hill is obliterated.