Stadium: Bank of America

Located on 33 acres (13 ha) in Charlotte's uptown, Bank of America Stadium is a 74,867-seat football stadium. It is the headquarters and home field of the NFL's Carolina Panthers and MLS' Charlotte FC. [14] Originally named Ericsson Stadium, after the Swedish telecom company LM Ericsson which held the naming rights when the stadium opened in 1996. Charlotte-based financial services provider Bank of America paid $140 million over 20-25 years to acquire the naming rights in 2004. Because of its bowl design and other features, former Panthers president Danny Morrison referred to it as a "classic American stadium." [16]

In addition to home games for the Panthers and CLTFC, the stadium also plays host to the annual Duke's Mayo Bowl, which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and either the Southeastern Conference (SEC) or the Big Ten Conference (Big Ten). The ACC Championship Game had been scheduled to be played at the stadium through at least 2019 before being relocated in 2016 and then brought back in 2017. On May 19, 2022, the ACC announced that Bank of America Stadium would continue to host the championship through at least the 2030 season. On September 9, 2018, 74,532 people saw the Panthers beat the Dallas Cowboys 16-8 in front of the stadium's record crowd. [21]

Possible Locations for the Picking Process [ edit ]

The Panthers franchise considered a number of alternative locations before settling on Charlotte's downtown. There once stood the landmark Good Samaritan Hospital on this property. Michael Moore, a local historian in Charlotte, identified the site as significant because it was the site of the city's first known lynching in 1913 while researching for the 2019 Equal Justice Initiative Community Remembrance Project. [22]

Northeast Mecklenburg County, home to NASCAR's Charlotte Motor Speedway and UNC Charlotte, was another option. Another was in western Gaston County, at the interchange of Interstate 85 and US Highway 74. A preferred site would be close to Carowinds amusement park, with the 50-yard line straddling the border between North and South Carolina.

Obtaining the Right to Use a Name [ edit ]

The stadium retains its original name, Carolinas Stadium, for select events like FIFA matches. LM Ericsson, a Swedish telecommunications company, paid $25 million for ten years of naming rights and changed the stadium's name to Ericsson Stadium[15] before its opening on August 3, 1996. For 20 years, beginning in 2004, Bank of America has owned the naming rights to the stadium, which led to its current name [23]. Ever since, "BOA"[24] or "The Bank" have become popular fan nicknames for the stadium.

Aspects of the Stadium [ edit ]

The exterior of Bank of America Stadium is replete with one-of-a-kind details. The team's colors of black, process blue, and silver are incorporated into the stadium's design at key points, such as the three massive main entrances. The upper deck's connecting arches to the column supports are shaped like the end zone of a football, and the building is surrounded by acres of trees and landscaping. There have been numerous comparisons made to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Soldier Field in terms of the stadium's architecture and design. On the outside, it has been compared to "a fortress" rather than a stadium, which has also drawn attention. [25]

Two larger-than-life bronze panther statues stand guard at each of the stadium's entrances, making this venue one of a kind in the National Football League. These six "Indomitable Spirit" statues were placed there in 1996. The sculptures, which are the largest ever commissioned in the United States, depict a crouching, snarling panther with green eyes (see [26]). At the bottom of each statue is a plaque with the names of the original PSL owners of the team.

The stadium's six light domes are also a notable feature. Two of these sit atop each main entrance, and they are higher than a hundred feet off the ground. The Panthers' original nighttime glow was just their signature "process blue." The radiance faded and the domes sagged with the passing of the seasons. LED lighting systems were installed during reconstruction of the domes in 2014. They are once again visible every night as they project process blue in ways that were previously impossible with the underlying technology. [29]

Ex-team executive Mike McCormack and ex-linebacker and assistant coach Sam Mills, both in the Panthers Hall of Honor, are also memorialized with life-size bronze statues just outside the stadium. Where the upper ribbon board is now, the names of hall of honor inductees were displayed prior to the 2014 renovations. In 2019, these names were removed from the top wall behind the last row of seats and replaced with signs. In 2014, the stadium's entrances were adorned with three marble copies of a quote from team founder Jerry Richardson. After renovations to the lower concourse entrances were completed, [31] these quotations were installed there. Outside the stadium, the quotations are engraved on benches.

Richardson's 80th birthday was celebrated in 2016 by the installation of a statue of him in the plaza outside the stadium's north entrance. The height of the statue is roughly 13 feet (3 96 m) in height and features two life-size sculptures of Richardson and panthers. As the other crouches, one panther rears up on its hind legs, claws bared. The "Indomitable Spirit" statue, the "Panther" statue, and the "Indomitable Spirit" statue are all the same bronze color, and all three sculptures look strikingly similar. During protests in June of 2020, the team decided to take down the statue for safety reasons (see footnote 32). [33]

In the NFL, the Carolina Panthers are known as the [ edit ]

Since 1996, Bank of America Stadium has hosted not only every home game for the Panthers but also seven playoff games. Since the 2002 season, Carolina has had over 150 consecutive sellouts at the stadium. [34]

Primo year [ edit ]

While the Panthers' new stadium was being built, the team played their first season at Clemson University's Memorial Stadium. The Panthers' preseason matchup with the Chicago Bears on August 3, 1996 was the stadium's first professional football game. The game's first-ever tipoff occurred at 7:35 p.m. Charlotte took the victory by a score of 30-12. On September 1, 1996, the Panthers played Atlanta, their future division rival, in the stadium's inaugural regular season game. The Panthers won, 29-6. [36]

Finals and Game 7s [ edit ]

After beating the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys in the first playoff game ever played at the stadium in 1996, the Carolina Panthers advanced to their first NFC Championship Game. In 2004, on their way to Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, they again prevailed over the Cowboys. Carolina suffered its first divisional round home playoff loss, 33-13, to the Arizona Cardinals on January 10, 2009. Against the San Francisco 49ers, the Panthers lost 23-10 at home on January 12, 2014, in the same round of the playoffs. On January 17, 2016, the Panthers advanced to the NFC Championship Game with a 31-24 divisional round victory over the Seattle Seahawks. On January 24, 2016, the Panthers won their second NFC title by defeating the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 in the NFC Championship Game. That was the first time the stadium had hosted and won an NFC title.

Indicators of a significant weather pattern [ edit ]

Bank of America Stadium, being an outdoor venue, has had its fair share of bad weather-related incidents.

• Around the middle of the second quarter of the 2011 Week 3 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a massive rainstorm engulfed the stadium. The result was miniature waterfalls appearing all over the field as water from the upper deck poured down onto the lower deck below. Eventually, the field was completely submerged in water. Players, some fans (many were in the concourses), and cheerleaders were all captured on camera by CBS despite the inclement weather. In total, more than four inches of rain fell in a little over an hour. The game was dubbed the "[2011] Water Bowl" by Charlotte Magazine. Carolina prevailed, 16-10, in the end. [38] [39]
• Heavy rain and wind hit the stadium during the third quarter of the Panthers' game against the Saints in Week 16 of the 2013 season, preventing the Panthers from clinching a playoff berth. When the rain started, fans stayed in their seats, unlike at the Jacksonville game where they left early because of the wind. The final score was 17-13 in favor of the Panthers.
• In 2015, during a Monday night game, the field conditions were terrible due to a persistent rainstorm. The spectators, however, once again faced the elements. To the surprise of no one, the Panthers beat the Colts 29-26.
• Snow and ice/sleet mixture blanketed the field and parts of the stadium in the days leading up to the 2015 NFC Championship Game. The Panthers' grounds crew, with some assistance, was able to get the field ready for the game, though. Before the game started, the snow and sleet had been cleared from or melted in most areas of the stadium.
• The Charlotte area was hit by a severe storm on July 11, 2016. Lightning struck the field in the middle of the stadium multiple times. Fortunately, nobody got hurt. [40]

The Effect on NFL Stadiums [ edit ]

When it was built in the mid-1990s, the stadium was an innovative example of the use of Personal Seat Licenses. It was the first time that PSLs were used as the primary source of funding for a major project in the United States. PSL pledges were so strong that NFL owners were impressed, and the Carolinas got the league's first expansion team in nearly 20 years because of it.

CenturyLink Field was partially modeled after Century Stadium, which is home to the Seattle Seahawks. Since the opening of Bank of America Stadium in 1996, a total of 25 other stadiums had been built or renovated by 2013. [42]

Upgrades to the Stadium [ edit ]

The stadium was so ahead of its time in its first few seasons that very few changes were made to it (aside from adding seats) until the 2013-2014 offseason. In 2007, the most noticeable upgrade occurred, when 31 new scoreboards, video boards, and displays replaced the originals that had been in use since 1996. Large Diamond Vision screens measuring 5 x 77 feet It also featured four ribbon boards: two along each sideline and two at the field's four corners.

Over the subsequent years, the stadium continued to be viewed as outdated in comparison to other NFL venues. There were a number of factors at play, including a subpar acoustic environment, smaller-than-average video boards, and spotty cell phone service. The Panthers spent the offseason of 2013 updating their home locker room. With the renovation, the locker room expanded from 66 to 74 compartments, the interior was made more streamlined and contemporary, and the brand-new team logo was displayed prominently. [43]

In early 2013, the Panthers proposed a $250 million stadium renovation project, with city of Charlotte funding at least part of the cost. Improvements to the infrastructure and concourse were also part of this plan, as were new scoreboards and several escalators. In the end, the city's vote and all subsequent attempts to secure funding from the state of North Carolina were unsuccessful [44]. A million budget cut was approved by the Charlotte city council in April 2013. agreement to renovate for $5 million This agreement also secured the Panthers' continued residency in the Queen City through at least 2019. [45] The team's original vision for the renovations would be preserved despite the reduced budget.

Restoration Work 2014-2017 [ edit ]

2014 [ edit ]

The Panthers kicked off the first phase of a multi-year renovation plan in January 2014, when they began the stadium's most extensive renovations in its 18-year history. Numerous improvements were made in time for the start of the 2014-2015 NFL season. At first glance, the two Daktronics 200' x 56' HD video boards (more than twice the size of their predecessors) and two 360° ribbon boards are striking. When they were first put in place, the NFL's newest ribbon boards stood at the tallest in the league,[46] and the league's largest video boards were among the top ten in size. Two, the upper deck now has escalators, allowing for more convenient fan access. [47] These necessitated interior renovations while the stadium's exterior remained unchanged. Also added was a brand-new surround sound system, with speakers serving double-duty as flagpoles around the bowl's outer rim. In addition, four "fan plazas," or covered open-air sections, were added to the upper deck. Finally, new exterior signage was installed, along with LED-enhanced glass domes, over the principal entrances. [48]

2015 [ edit ]

The Panthers updated the stadium's 158 luxury suites and added a new private club suite, called "The 32 Club" because of its location on the stadium's 32nd yard line, before the 2015 season began. The team later announced the addition of yet another club, the "51 Club," named after former player and coach Sam Mills. The stadium's overall seating capacity has increased while the number of luxury suites has decreased to 153 due to these renovations. For spectators' convenience, the team affixed two ribbon boards above each tunnel entrance.

2016 [ edit ]

Third, more Wi-Fi access points were added to the concourse, bringing the total to where it was before the renovations began. Upgrades to the concession stands and the addition of new beverage stands, as well as new team logos and word marks, can be seen on the upper concourse. In addition to other security measures, nearly one hundred full-body scanners were installed at the main entrances, and a new security office was set up. [50]

Additionally, as a gift to former team owner Jerry Richardson, a statue of him standing 13 feet tall between two life-size panthers was erected in front of the stadium. Since the June 2020 George Floyd protests, the statue has been taken down and hidden away. [51]

2017 [ edit ]

A new sign system, refreshed concessions, and modernized televisions in the club levels were all part of the fourth and final major renovation that took place. The concourse now also features banners commemorating pivotal moments in Panthers history. There was a minor increase in capacity as a result of renovations to the club sections. A brand-new playing field and drainage system were also built. [52][53]

Alternate Repairs [ edit ]

The East Gate of the stadium now features Lowe's advertising alongside two Panthers posters in 2019. Panthers logos at the bottom of the scoreboards were swapped out for those of various sponsors, [54] a minor but noticeable change. All of the Panthers Hall of Honor inductees have brand new plaques affixed to the upper deck's rear wall. The club announced in 2019 that they would be removing nearly a thousand seats from the west end zone in 2020. In their place would be 14 field-level "bunker suites." There were no unfinished buildings for the 2020 season. [55]

Modernization of the Multiple Listing Service [ edit ]

Charlotte was awarded the 30th franchise in Major League Soccer in 2019, and the team's home field, Bank of America Stadium, was announced at the time. Although the stadium's field is the right dimensions for soccer, it was not built with a permanent soccer team in mind. Upgrades to the lower concourse include new locker rooms, cameras, a tunnel entrance, and a curved video screen outside the east gate. Before Charlotte FC's inaugural 2022 season, the stadium underwent a comprehensive renovation, which was completed on schedule and on budget (see note 56). After using Bermuda grass since its inception, the stadium announced in March 2021 that it would switch to FieldTurf for the 2021 NFL season. [57]

High school and college football [ edit ]

[ edit ]

Since no college football team makes Bank of America Stadium its primary home, there is no official home game played there. With that said, many college football games have been played there since 1996. The schedule features matches between North Carolina and South Carolina teams.

• Since 2010, the stadium had hosted the annual ACC Championship Game on the first Saturday of December, which pits the Coastal Division champion against the Atlantic Division champion. Originally scheduled to take place in Charlotte through 2019,[17] the ACC's decision to cancel the game in September 2016 following the passage of North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act (HB2) came as a surprise to many. After the repeal of HB2 in 2017, the game was brought back. [60]
• Annually since 2002, Charlotte, North Carolina has played host to the Duke's Mayo Bowl (also known as the Continental Tire Bowl, Meineke Car Care Bowl, and Belk Bowl). In this matchup, ACC teams take on opponents from the SEC or Big Ten.
• Previously known as the Belk Kickoff Game, the Duke's Mayo Classic has been played at the stadium every year since 2015. The initial gathering included North Carolina and South Carolina. In 2017, NC State and South Carolina faced off in the Kickoff game, while in 2018, West Virginia and Tennessee met. There was another meeting between North and South Carolina in 2019. [62] In 2021, the Mountaineers were assigned as the home team for the games against East Carolina and Appalachian State. Clemson faced Georgia, and the Tigers faced the Bulldogs. [63]
• Several East Carolina Pirates games have been played in the stadium, including a 50-29 win over the NC State Wolfpack in 1996, a 30-23 victory over the West Virginia Mountaineers in 1999, a 52-14 loss to NC State in 2004, and a 27-22 upset victory over the 17th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies in 2008. including a 56-37 defeat to the No. 12 South Carolina Gamecocks in 2011. [64][65]
• There was a non-conference game between Clemson and Temple in October of 2006, and Clemson won 63-9. In order to save money, Temple decided to play the game in Charlotte instead of at home. [66]
• The stadium hosted two North Carolina State University games (in 1998 and 1999) and two North Carolina games (in 1998 and 1999). Carolina triumphed by final scores of 37-34 and 10-6. [67]
• For the year 2022, the stadium will host a matchup between North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central.
• In 2023, the stadium will host another North Carolina vs. South Carolina football game. [68]

[ edit ]

Myers Park High School of Charlotte, North Carolina, and South Pointe High School of Rock Hill, South Carolina, were scheduled to play on May 6, 2020. A match scheduled for September 5, 2020, has been scrapped. [69][70]

Soccer [ edit ]

The field at Bank of America Stadium was built specifically to accommodate a soccer pitch's dimensions and specifications. For the first twenty years of the stadium's life, this feature would sit unused. Thanks to the expansion of the MLS and the arrival of Charlotte FC, the stadium is frequently hosting matches on both the domestic and international levels.

Football Club of Charlotte [ edit ]

Charlotte received an expansion team in MLS and began playing as Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium in 2022. On October 31, 2020, the stadium hosted the first Major League Soccer (MLS)-related action when it hosted matches between the academy teams of Charlotte FC and Atlanta United. At their home opener on March 5, 2022, they drew a league-record 74,479 fans. Capacity is capped at 38,000 for most Charlotte FC matches because only the lower bowl and club level are used. [74][75]

Additional Soccer Games [ edit ]

Bank of America Stadium had previously played host to a number of soccer matches prior to the arrival of Charlotte FC. In 1999 and again in 2000, the stadium played host to the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. Despite this, regular soccer games didn't start happening until 2010. Since then, most games have featured teams from other countries. In accordance with a multi-year agreement with Relevent Sports Group, the International Champions Cup uses the stadium annually to host international club friendlies. Teams from the Premier League, Bundesliga, and many different national teams have all played there.

Playoffs for national teams and friendly matches between clubs from around the world [ edit ]

Date Succeding Group Result Team that consistently finishes in last place Tournament Spectators Notes March 24, 2010   Mexico 0–0   Iceland In a Friendly International 63,227 June 9, 2011   Costa Rica 1–1   Country of El Salvador1 Group A of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup 46,012   Mexico 5–0   Cuba Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2014 To cheer on Liverpool Football Club. 2–0 A.C. Milan Champion's Cup of the World 2014 69,364 July 15, 2015   Cuba 1–0   Guatemala Cup of CONCACAF Group C 2015 55,823   Mexico 4–4   The Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago1 July 25, 2015 Chelsea 1–1
(6-5 pen.) SC Paris Saint-Germain1 Cup of the World's Champions 2015 61,224 July 30, 2016 Munich's FC Bayern 4–1 A.S. Internazionale The 2016 International Tournament of Champions 53,629 July 22, 2018 BVB of Germany 3–1 LFC Liverpool It's time for the 2018 International Champions Cup1. 55,447 June 23, 2019   Canada 7–0   Cuba Team A of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup 59,283   Mexico 3–2   Martinique July 20, 2019 Arsenal 3–0 FC Fiorentina A.C. The Tournament of Champions Returns in 2019 34,902 On Wednesday, October 3, 2019,   Women in the United States of America 2–0   Females of South Korea Peaceful Women Around the World 30,071 March 26, 2020   Mexico –   The Czech Republic1 Friendship across borders N/A called off because of a Coronavirus outbreak[78] On October 27th, 2021   Ecuador 3–2   Mexico Amicable Relations Across National Boundaries 39,887 July 20, 2022 FC Charlotte 1–1
(5-3 pen.) Chelsea Relating well in nightclubs 52,673

Concerts [ edit ]

For a long time, concerts at the stadium were extremely uncommon. The Spectrum Center and other Charlotte venues hosted the vast majority of the performing arts events. As a result of David Tepper's 2018 purchase of the Panthers (and thus the stadium), a rise in the frequency of concerts was observed.

Date Performer(s) Show opener(s) Tour/Event Attendance Revenue Notes Specifically: 10 October 1997 AKA: The Rolling Stones1 There's a Blues Traveler1 in the House Journey to the Bridges of Babylon 54,436 / 54,436 $3,126,945 June 24, 2012 Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney The Nocturnals, or Grace Potter
Jake Owen Touring Like Brothers in the Sun 44,482 / 47,835 $3,404,455 [79] As of the 30th of September, 2021 Band: The Rolling Stones Spirit Hounds Not Filtered Concert Experience 42,577 / 42,577 ,074,182 [80][81] April 23, 2022 Billy Joel Performing Live, Billy Joel [82][83] April 30, 2022 The Music of Kenny Chesney1 Dan Shay
Colonial America
Pearce, Carly Now and Here Tour [84] June 28, 2022 This is Mötley Crüe1, or the MC.
A.K.A. Def Leppard1 Poison
They were known as Joan Jett and the Blackhearts1. Touring Stadiums Originally planned for 2020, it has been delayed until after the COVID-19 epidemic. July 15 & 16, 2022 In the words of Garth Brooks1: It's Garth Brooks' Big Stadium Tour! Trisha Yearwood makes a surprise appearance[85]. On September 1, 2022 Peppers, Red Hot They're the Strokes
Thundercat Worldwide Stadium Tour in 2022 [86] Friday, September 18, 2022 Elton John Last Ride Down the Yellow Brick Road [87]

Aside From That [ edit ]

• In 1996, Billy Graham's crusade lasted four days at the stadium.
• On September 6, 2012, the stadium was scheduled to host the closing night of the Democratic National Convention, during which President Barack Obama was scheduled to give his acceptance speech for the Democratic Party's nomination for president. As rain was expected, the event had to be moved to Spectrum Center. [88]
• On May 4, 2019, the first-ever Untapped Beer Festival took place at the stadium. It was scheduled to host the second Festival on May 16, 2020, but the event was canceled because of the Coronavirus outbreak. [90][91]
• On March 7, 2020, the stadium hosted the 14th annual Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival. [92]
• From January 29-31 and March 9-11, 2021, the stadium was a COVID-19 vaccination site. [93][94]
• Topgolf Live Stadium Series was held at Bank of America Stadium from March 25th to the 28th, 2021. [95]

Future [ edit ]

David Tepper, owner of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC, has expressed interest in constructing a new stadium for the teams in Uptown Charlotte, with Bank of America Stadium being demolished in the future. While the Stadium has been well-maintained and landscaped, Tepper joked in 2019 that it would be cheaper to give the stadium away because of the rising cost of maintaining it after decades of use. As a result of not having open concourses (where fans can stand and watch games from bars and other group areas) and a retractable roof, this once-revolutionary stadium is now considered antiquated. Tepper has favored that the new stadium replace Bank of America Stadium, which was built primarily for football under former owner Jerry Richardson, be multipurpose with a retractable roof to accommodate his Major League Soccer team, concerts, major conventions, and the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament. Tepper mentioned plans for another major remodel in 2022 [97]. The stadium could presumably be used for another two or three decades after this renovation. [98]

Gateway Station, an 0 million intermodal transit station, is currently under construction, and there are plans to create an entertainment district between the future stadium and the future Gateway Station. [99]

References [ edit ]

Inbound links [ edit ]

• Internet home of the official logo
• StadiumDB entry for Bank of America Field com