<P> Richardson's announcement created a buzz in the region, as politicians, businessmen, and citizens all joined together to show the NFL that a team could be supported in the area . United States Senators Jesse Helms of North Carolina and Ernest Hollings of South Carolina put aside their partisan differences to lobby NFL owners to support the expansion . Meanwhile, then - North Carolina Governor James G. Martin and then - South Carolina Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. created a committee of citizens from both states to help the cause . Preseason games were held in the region in 1989, 1990, and 1991 . The first two were held at Carter--Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, respectively, while the third game was held at Williams - Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina . The matchups were between existing NFL teams and all three games were sold out as part of the fans' efforts to show their support . </P> <P> In 1992, the NFL released their list of five areas open to a potential NFL team: Baltimore, Maryland; St. Louis, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; Jacksonville, Florida; and the Carolinas, represented by Charlotte . After the vote was delayed because of a dispute between the players and the league, the race began again in 1993 . In June of that year, Richardson Sports announced that they would finance the stadium through the sale of Permanent Seat Licenses, club seats, and luxury boxes . In a stunning show of fan support, all seats were sold out by the end of the first day . </P> <P> The feasibility of the team was no longer a question, but it was still up to the league to decide where the new team would go . On October 26, 1993, the league announced that the owners had unanimously voted for the Carolinas to receive the 29th franchise, the first new NFL team since 1976 (Jacksonville was named the 30th team a month later). Fans all over the region celebrated with fireworks . In a memorable moment during the expansion announcement conference, Richardson spoke directly into a camera feed going to the Carolinas to thank the 40,000 people who had purchased the PSLs and allowing the stadium to be built without a burden to the taxpayers . </P> <P> Even though St. Louis and Baltimore lost out on their expansion bids, they eventually acquired new teams: the Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995 (however, the Rams would return to Los Angeles in 2016), and as the result of the 1996 Cleveland Browns relocation controversy, the Baltimore Ravens were established by the league as technically a new expansion team . Memphis also temporarily received a team when the Houston Oilers relocated in 1996 to Tennessee, intending to play the 1997 and 1998 seasons in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium while what is now called Nissan Stadium in Nashville was being constructed . </P>

When did the carolina panthers become a team