Bank of America Stadium, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a 74,867-seat multi-purpose stadium. Home to the Carolina Panthers (NFL) and Charlotte FC (MLS), it opened in 1996 as Ericsson Stadium. Bank of America acquired naming rights in 2004. The stadium, known for its classic American bowl design, is situated on 33 acres in Uptown Charlotte and also serves as the Panthers' headquarters.
1913: Tragic Lynching at the Stadium Site
Research conducted in 2019 for the Equal Justice Initiative Community Remembrance Project revealed a tragic event from the stadium site's past: the city's first known lynching, which took place in 1913.
August 3, 1996: First Professional Football Game
On August 3, 1996, Bank of America Stadium, then known as Ericsson Stadium, hosted its first professional football game: a preseason match between the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears. The Panthers won 30-12.
September 1, 1996: First Regular Season Game at Bank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium hosted its first regular season game on September 1, 1996, a match between the Carolina Panthers and their division rivals, the Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers won with a score of 29-6.
1996: Ericsson Stadium Opens
Bank of America Stadium opened in 1996 under the name Ericsson Stadium after a naming rights agreement with the Swedish telecom company LM Ericsson.
1996: Panthers Begin Home Game Streak at Bank of America Stadium
Since its opening in 1996, Bank of America Stadium has served as the home venue for all Carolina Panthers home games.
1996: "Indomitable Spirit" Panther Statues Installed
In 1996, six bronze panther statues, each named "Indomitable Spirit," were installed at Bank of America Stadium's entrances. These statues, depicting crouching, snarling panthers with green eyes, are notable for being the largest sculptures ever commissioned in the United States.
1996: First Playoff Game Victory
In 1996, Bank of America Stadium witnessed its first playoff game victory when the Carolina Panthers defeated the Dallas Cowboys, the defending Super Bowl champions at the time.
2002: Panthers Achieve Consecutive Sellouts
Beginning in the 2002 season, the Carolina Panthers achieved an impressive streak of over 150 consecutive sellouts at Bank of America Stadium, demonstrating the team's strong fan base.
2004: Second Playoff Victory Against Cowboys
Continuing their success in playoff games at Bank of America Stadium, the Carolina Panthers secured another victory against the Dallas Cowboys in 2004, on their path to Super Bowl XXXVIII.
2004: Bank of America Acquires Naming Rights
In 2004, Bank of America purchased the naming rights to the stadium in a 20-year agreement, changing the name to Bank of America Stadium.
2004: Bank of America Stadium Nicknames Emerge
Following the 2004 naming rights agreement with Bank of America, fans began using nicknames for the stadium, including "BOA," "The Bank," and "PoundTown."
2007: Scoreboard and Display Upgrades
In 2007, Bank of America Stadium underwent a significant technological upgrade, replacing the original scoreboards, video boards, and displays from 1996 with state-of-the-art 31.5' x 77' Diamond Vision video boards. The renovations also included the installation of four ribbon boards, enhancing the visual experience for fans.
January 10, 2009: First Home Playoff Loss
The Carolina Panthers experienced their first home playoff defeat at Bank of America Stadium on January 10, 2009, losing to the Arizona Cardinals 33-13 in the divisional round.
April 2013: Charlotte City Council agrees to $87.5 million stadium renovation deal
In April 2013, the Charlotte city council agreed to an $87.5 million deal for renovating the Bank of America Stadium. This agreement ensured the Panthers would remain in Charlotte until at least 2019, despite prior failed attempts to secure funding from the state.
2013: Bank of America Stadium Influences Stadium Design
Bank of America Stadium's innovative design served as a model for other stadiums, including CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks. By 2013, the stadium's impact on stadium architecture was evident, with 25 new or renovated stadiums drawing inspiration from its design.
2013: Need for Further Stadium Upgrades Identified
By 2013, it became apparent that Bank of America Stadium, despite its earlier innovations, required further upgrades to keep pace with the standards of other NFL stadiums.
2013: Renovation of the Home Locker Room
During the 2013 offseason, the Carolina Panthers invested in renovating their home locker room at Bank of America Stadium. The upgrades included increasing the number of lockers, modernizing the interior design, and incorporating the team's then-new logo throughout the space.
January 12, 2014: Second Home Playoff Loss
On January 12, 2014, the Carolina Panthers suffered their second home playoff loss at Bank of America Stadium, this time against the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 23-10, also in the divisional round.
January 2014: Panthers begin major stadium renovations
In January 2014, the Panthers initiated significant renovations at the Bank of America Stadium, marking the most extensive changes in its 18-year history. By the 2014-2015 NFL season, enhancements included massive HD video boards, new ribbon boards, escalators, and fan plazas.
2014: Statues and Tributes Added
In 2014, Bank of America Stadium received several additions honoring key figures in Carolina Panthers history, including life-sized bronze statues of Mike McCormack and Sam Mills, both inductees into the Panthers Hall of Honor. Additionally, three marble copies of a quote from team founder Jerry Richardson were placed near the stadium's entrances.
2014: Light Dome Upgrades
As part of the 2014 renovations, Bank of America Stadium's six light domes underwent a significant upgrade, replacing their original lighting with LED systems. This allowed for more dynamic and versatile lighting displays in the Panthers' signature 'process blue' color.
2015: Luxury suites renovated and new clubs introduced
Prior to the 2015 season, the Panthers renovated all 158 luxury suites at the stadium and introduced the "32 Club" and "51 Club." These changes reduced the number of luxury suites but increased seating capacity overall.
January 17, 2016: Victory Against Seattle Seahawks in Playoffs
The Carolina Panthers secured a decisive victory against the Seattle Seahawks, winning 31-24 in the divisional round of the playoffs on January 17, 2016, at Bank of America Stadium.
January 24, 2016: First NFC Championship Victory
In a historic moment on January 24, 2016, the Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 at Bank of America Stadium, marking the first time the team had won the NFC Championship game and the first time the championship had been played at their home stadium.
2016: Jerry Richardson Statue Unveiled
In 2016, a 13-foot-tall statue of Jerry Richardson, the founder of the Carolina Panthers, was unveiled in front of Bank of America Stadium's north gate. The statue, a tribute to Richardson's 80th birthday, depicts him flanked by two panthers, one standing with claws bared and the other crouching.
September 9, 2018: Record Attendance for a Football Game
The largest crowd ever recorded at Bank of America Stadium for a football game occurred on September 9, 2018, when 74,532 fans attended the Panthers' 16-8 victory against the Dallas Cowboys.
2019: Relocation of Hall of Honor Names
During the 2019 renovations at Bank of America Stadium, the names of the Panthers Hall of Honor inductees were moved from the upper ribbon board to signs displayed in the lower concourse entrances.
2019: Lowe's signage added and Panthers Hall of Honor updates
In 2019, Lowe's signage was installed at the East Gate of the stadium, along with two Panthers posters. The scoreboards were also updated with sponsor logos, and the Panthers' Hall of Honor received new nameplates.
May 6, 2020: High school football game announced
On May 6, 2020, it was announced that Charlotte's Myers Park High School would play South Pointe High School from Rock Hill, South Carolina at the stadium on September 5, 2020. However, the game was later canceled.
June 2020: Jerry Richardson Statue Removed
Citing safety concerns in light of ongoing protests, the Carolina Panthers removed the statue of Jerry Richardson from Bank of America Stadium in June 2020.
June 2020: Removal of Jerry Richardson statue
In June 2020, the statue of former team owner Jerry Richardson, previously located in front of the stadium, was removed and stored in an undisclosed location due to the George Floyd protests.
October 31, 2020: First MLS-related match at stadium
On October 31, 2020, Bank of America Stadium hosted its first MLS-related action with academy matches between Charlotte FC and Atlanta United.
March 5, 2022: Charlotte FC makes home debut
On March 5, 2022, Charlotte FC made their home debut at Bank of America Stadium, attracting a record crowd of 74,479 for a stand-alone MLS match.
May 19, 2022: ACC Extends Championship Game Agreement
On May 19, 2022, the ACC announced an extension of their agreement with Bank of America Stadium, ensuring that the stadium will continue to host the ACC Championship Game through at least the 2030 season.
2022: Consideration for major stadium renovation
In 2022, David Tepper, owner of the Panthers and Charlotte FC, considered another major renovation for Bank of America Stadium to extend its use for a few more decades.
August 19, 2023: First high school game held at stadium
On August 19, 2023, the first high school game at Bank of America Stadium took place, with Providence Day School defeating Northwestern High School 42-35 in the inaugural Keep Pounding High School Classic.