Panthers hopeful a successful safety record could spell bigger crowds at Bank of America Stadium

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Thursday night at Bank of America Stadium, the Carolina Panthers will reach the halfway point of their season — and their home schedule. The Panthers face the Atlanta Falcons, an NFC South rival, in a game that will be the third to include fans in the stands. For the home opener on Sept. 13, no fans were allowed inside the stadium.

Capacity on Thursday will be limited to 5,240 at the 75,000-seat stadium, or 7%, the same as it was for games against the Arizona Cardinals, on Oct. 4, and the Chicago Bears, on Oct. 18.

After the Falcons on Thursday, Carolina’s next home game is Nov. 15. The opponent is another division rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and team officials would like to be able to have a larger crowd for that game.

“We’ve had two great games with no Covid-related issues,” Panthers Chief Operating Officer Mark Hart told me this week. “We’re hoping to continue that and perform well.”

Hart and the Panthers do not have a particular number or percentage of capacity in mind. And the team knows any changes to the current parameters will be decided by the state health and human services department in consultation with Gov. Roy Cooper, local health authorities and input from the Panthers.

The Buccaneers game is appealing for several reasons.

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What Panthers game day will look like for fans at Bank of America Stadium

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