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 Bank
of America Stadium
Charlotte, NC
After nearly a decade of existence,
Bank of America Stadium is one of the top stadiums in the NFL. It has
also become home of the annual Meineke Bowl game each year. It matches
teams from the ACC and Big East Conferences against each other.
In 1990, the NFL announced that it
would expand to thirty teams. Charlotte was one of the first
cities mentioned as a possible site for a new NFL team. Fans in
the area had always dreamed of having a local NFL team. In 1993,
that dream became a reality when the NFL announced that Charlotte
would receive a franchise, to begin playing in 1995. The team was
named the Carolina Panthers. Construction began immediately on a
new stadium. Originally, Ericsson Inc. bought the naming rights,
and the stadium was named Ericsson Stadium. In January 2004, the
Panthers and Bank of America agreed on a 20 year deal to rename
Ericsson Stadium, Bank of America Stadium. When it opened it
became one of only a few stadiums to be financed privately by the
owners of the club. Bank of America Stadium was not complete in time for the
1995 season. The Panthers had to play their inaugural season at
Memorial Stadium, home of the Clemson Tigers (NCAA).
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Bank of America Stadium was completed for the
start of the 1996 season. The Carolina Panthers played their first
game at the stadium on September 14, 1996. Bank of America Stadium
is one of the NFL's premier stadiums from the outside to inside.
Located right outside of downtown Charlotte, the facade of Bank of
America Stadium is very unique. It consists of massive archways,
and domed towers. Bank of America Stadium features a striking
black obsidian granite facade. A pair of black panthers, each
eight-feet-tall, and weighing
2,000
pounds, perched on ten-foot pedestals, are located on both sides
of each of the three 80-foot arched entrances. The 48-foot
diameter light domes atop the entry towers are lit every night.
The exterior looks like many other notable stadiums, such as
Soldier Field. Bank of America Stadium consists of over 73,000
blue and silver seats in three tiers that circle the playing
field. The stadium has many amenities, including the Bank of
America club and 158 luxury suites. Two massive scoreboards are
located atop the upper deck past each end zone. Bank of America
Stadium also includes three practice facilities, training
facilities, and administrative offices.
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DIRECTIONS TO BANK OF
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