Mayor declares Fan Friday in preparation for the playoff game

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte's mayor declared this Friday as "Fan Friday" as excitement builds for the Carolina Panthers playoff game Sunday.

People across the city are pumped up ahead of the playoff game including Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon.

"I'm really excited as mayor, and I'm looking forward to a great playoff," Cannon said.

"Fan Friday" is a day for all Panthers fans to show their support.

"It's my hope that everyone will come out and be excited about what's going on this weekend," Cannon said.

Part of that effort is putting Panthers signage everywhere, including paw prints already lining the floors of the government center.

"We want their prints, our prints, to be all over this place," Cannon said.

Signs will go up throughout uptown Charlotte, including bus shelters, CATS buses and the LYNX Light Rail cars.

Billboards are flashing the popular Twitter hashtag "#KeepPounding" and another big push is for fans to wear Panthers colors or all black on Friday.

There is also a spark of friendly competition ahead of the game.

Cannon said he and San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee agreed to a little wager where one of them will wear the winning team's gear.

Channel 9 is gearing up for a one-hour Panthers pride special at 8 p.m. Friday night live from the EpiCentre.

WSOC