The Charlotte Checkers hockey team has new owners. Zawyer Sports & Entertainment, based in Jacksonville, Florida, now has controlling interest in the team. Michael Kahn, the team’s current CEO who has held majority ownership since 2006, will remain as the largest minority partner.
The Checkers’ day-to-day business operations and front office staff will not change as a result of the ownership transfer. The team will continue to play home games at Bojangles Coliseum.
“We are excited to welcome the Charlotte Checkers to the Zawyer Sports family,” says Zawyer Sports & Entertainment CEO Andy Kaufmann in a statement. “The Checkers are a team rich with history and an incredible fan base and we are honored to do our part in making Checkers Nation proud – not just on game days, but all year long in this very special community.”
In February, Zawyer brought a professional baseball team to Gastonia, which began play in April. The new team – which is known as Gastonia Baseball Club in its inaugural year – took the place of the Gastonia Honeyhunters in the 11-member Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The Honeyhunters started play in a city-built stadium in 2021, but had financial difficulties and its parent company – NC Gas House Gang – filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2023.
“We have already made an impact here in the community with Gastonia Baseball, and we are eager to grow our footprint in the region by providing local families with quality entertainment, community outreach and competitive hockey,” Kaufman says in a statement.
Khan says Zawyer Sports & Entertainment will help the Checkers organization grow in the Charlotte community and beyond. “This is a monumental day for Charlotte Checkers hockey and one that makes the Checkers future very bright,” Khan says in a statement.
The Checkers are the latest addition to Zawyer Sports & Entertainment’s family of teams. The organization owns and operates three ECHL franchises: The Jacksonville Icemen, Tahoe Knight Monsters and the Checkers’ newest affiliate, the Savannah Ghost Pirates. It also owns and operates the Gastonia Baseball Club, Community First Igloo in Jacksonville and 32 Degrees Marketing, a full-service agency. Additionally, Zawyer operates the ECHL’s Allen Americans and Atlanta Gladiators as well as Ghost Pirates Ice in Savannah.
Prominent partners in Zawyer’s group include NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick, Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, NFL linebacker Myles Jack, Carolina Panthers long-snapper J.J. Jansen and Fox NASCAR analyst Regan Smith.
There will be no change to the team’s NHL affiliation with the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers or to the team’s status as the primary tenant at Bojangles Coliseum.
“The Florida Panthers partnership with the Charlotte Checkers is pivotal in the development and compete level of our Panthers Pipeline and roster,” says Florida Panthers Senior Vice President, Hockey Operations Paul Krepelka. “We are grateful to Michael Kahn for his time at the helm of our affiliate and can’t wait to welcome Zawyer Sports to Charlotte.”
“Bojangles Coliseum has been a cornerstone of our community since the 1950s, with hockey holding a special place in its rich history,” said Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority CEO Steve Bagwell. “Since the Checkers returned to the Coliseum a decade ago, they have become an integral part of the BOplex, bringing renewed energy and excitement.”
The American Hockey League board approved the transaction at its annual meetings last week.
The Checkers’ 2024-25 home opener will be played against the Cleveland Monsters at Bojangles Coliseum at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18.
