Security upgrades in play as thousands expected for Panthers Fan Fest

by: Joe Bruno, DaShawn Brown Updated:

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. —

As many as 60,000 fans are expected in Bank of America Stadium Friday night to welcome the Carolina Panthers in their first home appearance since winning the NFC Championship.

Channel 9 will have live team coverage from Bank of America Stadium Friday evening on Eyewitness News at 5 p.m.

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Fans attending the annual Fan Fest event will also face new security measures at the stadium, which include walking through one of 95 security scanners called “magnetometers.”

Click here for Fan Fest Info

Team officials announced the changes last month, aimed at hardening Bank of America Stadium as a potential target.

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Security officials doubled the amount of surveillance cameras throughout the 33-acre campus, and will employ additional bomb-sniffing canines on Panthers game days.

"I think in this day and time you certainly do have to take the extra measures of security," said fan Donna Gilbert.

LINK: Bank of America Stadium guidelines

Security teams utilized the walk through scanners for the first time last weekend on thousands of fans attending an international soccer match at the stadium. Team officials confirmed the scanners will be used again Friday, and do not anticipate any adjustments on how they are used.

Fans should also expect to comply with the NFL Bag Policy, which requires bags allowed inside the stadium be clear and within the specified dimensions.

Last week, dozens of fans were turned away from the stadium because of the bag policy.

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An uptown hotel offered to check bags for a fee until the demand overwhelmed its normal operations.

CLICK HERE: NFL stadium bag policy

Fans attending Fan Fest are required to have a ticket for the event. Those tickets are free.

Gates at Bank of America Stadium open at 6 p.m.

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