CHARLOTTE — Carolina Panthers football is back, and for Uptown that means an influx of tens of thousands of fans come Sunday. That means the Uptown roads will be a mess, the parking decks will be expensive and the light rail will be crowded.
CATS and Tepper Sports and Entertainment are offering a new option to get to and from the game. CATS is now offering express bus service from several park-and-rides across the county.
“We know it’s going to be a big game,” interim CATS CEO Brent Cagle said. “We want the Panthers to win and we want everybody to be able to get there and get home safe and affordably.”
In south Charlotte, the service will be offered at the Waverly, Arboretum and Strawberry Hill Park and Rides. In Matthews, service will be offered at the Matthews Independence Pointe Parkway Park and Ride. The service will also be offered at the Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville Park and Rides.
Passengers are dropped off a half mile from the stadium in between the Convention Center and NASCAR Hall of Fame.
It’s only $3 for each direction and service will start 2 and a half hours before kickoff with buses leaving every 30 minutes. Return trips start 30 minutes after the game.
“It helps people save money and it really helps you avoid all of that congestion and traffic nightmare,” Cagle said.
It also means you can enjoy a few more drinks at the game.
“If you want to enjoy a beverage when you’re at the game, you don’t have to worry about getting home and who’s the designated driver,” Cagle said. “Our drivers will be your designated driver.”
Info from CATS:
The service is $3 each direction or $6.60 for a system day pass. Tickets can be purchased on the CATS-Pass app.
The three routes will provide trips from designated Park & Ride locations directly to Uptown prior to kickoff. Customers utilizing the service may park their vehicles at Matthews-Independence Pointe Parkway, Davidson Gateway, Cornelius, Northcross, Huntersville Gateway, Waverly, Arboretum and Strawberry Hill Park & Rides with the purchase of an express bus ticket or system day pass.
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Service will begin 2.5 hours prior to kickoff, with three trips departing every 30 minutes. For games that begin at 1 p.m., buses will depart Park & Ride locations for Uptown at 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Return trips will begin 30 minutes after the game, departing every 30 minutes. After Sunday’s game, the routes will provide three return trips from Uptown back to Park & Ride locations at 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Customers will exit and board the buses on Brevard Street between 3rd Street and Brooklyn Village Avenue in Uptown, just a few blocks away from Bank of America Stadium.
CATS encourages Carolina Panthers fans to subscribe to Rider’s Alerts on the CATS website. Subscribers will receive service updates and Game Day Express bus schedules prior to each home game.