Bank of America Stadium - Carolina
Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
• SportsTravel City Guide - Charlotte
WEEK 10: TAMPA BAY AT CAROLINA; NOV. 13, 8:30 p.m. EDT
THE BASICS
• Stadium name: Bank of America Stadium
• Address: 800 S. Mint St., Charlotte, N.C., 28202
• Capacity: 73,298
• Opened: 1996
• Location: The stadium is located in downtown Charlotte.
• Web links: Stadium | Directions
• Web links: Wikipedia | Ultimate Sports Road Trip review
• Parking availablilty: Parking at the stadium is limited -- most fans park in one of the many private lots surrounding the stadium (Information).
• Alternative transportation options: Public transportation will take you right to the stadium (Information).
LOCAL COLOR
• Unique stadium features:
The Panthers' home was designed as a stadium located in a park. There are groves of pines, a cornucopia of flowers and a sculpture of a panther at each entrance to the stadium. Inside the stadium, on the east end of the upper level, are mounted more than 400 football helmets -- representing each high school and college football team in the Carolinas.
Note: the Panthers will be wearing their black home jerseys the night of the Tampa Bay game, and the team has encouraged all fans to dress in black.
• MNF W-L records:
Carolina: 3-2 (Most recent appearance: beat Green Bay 32-29, Oct. 3, 2005)
Tampa Bay: 9-7 (Most recent appearance: lost to St. Louis 28-21, Oct. 18, 2004)
• Biggest events held at stadium: NFC Divisional Playoff (Jan. 1997), NCAA Men's Soccer Final Four (1999, 2000), Continental Tire Bowl (annually), Billy Graham's Carolinas Crusade (1996), Rolling Stones in concert (1997).
• Stadium tour info: The 90-minute soup-to-nuts guided tour of the stadium is so comprehensive, it requires a mile of walking (Information).
TICKET INFO
• Tickets: Web site
• Seating chart
FOOD & DRINK
• Food options inside the stadium: Chopped pork barbecue. That's half the joy of visiting Bank of America Stadium. Both styles of North Carolina 'cue are here: tomato-based (Western Carolina) and vinegar-based (from the Eastern part of the state) -- they also serve mustard-based barbecue, but that's a South Carolina thing. Leave room for a fried bologna sandwich, a 4th-and-long hot dog (a foot-long wiener packed with chili, cheese and onions) and sweet tea.
• Tailgating scene outside the stadium: Despite the scarcity of official lots, there's a thriving tailgating scene around Bank of America Stadium The lots surrounding the stadium are available for tailgating, starting four hours prior to kickoff. Check the sign before you pull in: Not all allow cooking over open flames, or alcohol.
• Beer selection/prices: You won't find a stadium that sells beer at a better price. Bud, Miller and Coors products sell for $5.75 for both 20-ounce drafts and 16-ounce plastic bottles. 20-ounce specialty drafts (Charleston Brown Ale) and imports (Stella, Guinness, Bass) cost $6.50.
• Selected Charlotte-area restaurants and sports bars:
Steak:
Sullivan's Steakhouse
1928 South Blvd.
Charlotte, N.C.
704-335-8228
Web site
Pizza:
Portofino
3124 Eastway Dr. (East Charlotte)
Charlotte, N.C.
704-568-7933
Web site
Sports bars:
Stool Pigeons (Uptown)
214 N. Church St.
Charlotte, N.C.
704-358-3788
Web site
