Bank of America Stadium facts for kids
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The Bank, BofA, BoA, The Fortress
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Bank of America Stadium in 2025
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 Bank of America Stadium
Location in North Carolina
Bank of America Stadium
Location in the United States
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| Former names | Panthers Stadium (planning) Carolinas Stadium (planning) Ericsson Stadium (1996–2004) |
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| Address | 800 South Mint Street |
| Location | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States |
| Coordinates | 35°13′33″N 80°51′10″W / 35.22583°N 80.85278°W |
| Public transit |  Brooklyn Village |
| Owner | Tepper Sports and Entertainment |
| Operator | Tepper Sports and Entertainment |
| Executive suites | 151 |
| Capacity | 74,867 (2021–present)
Former capacity: List
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| Record attendance | 82,193 (October 26, 2024; Concert For Carolina) |
| Field size | 398 feet long x 280 feet wide |
| Surface | artificial (FieldTurf Pro) |
| Scoreboard | 55.5 ft tall by 198.3 ft wide (x2) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 22, 1994 |
| Opened | August 3, 1996 |
| Renovated | 2007, 2014–2017, 2019, 2020–21 |
| Expanded | 1997–1998, 2005, 2007–2008, 2014–2015, 2017 |
| Construction cost | $500 million |
| Architect | Wagner Murray Architects Populous (then HOK Sport) |
| Structural engineer | Bliss and Nyitray, Inc. |
| Services engineer | Lockwood Greene |
| General contractor | Turner F.N. Thompson |
| Tenants | |
| Carolina Panthers (NFL) (1996–present) Charlotte FC (MLS) (2022–present) Duke's Mayo Bowl (NCAA) (2002–present) Duke's Mayo Classic (NCAA) (2015–present) |
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Bank of America Stadium is a huge sports stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. It has 74,867 seats and covers 33 acres. This stadium is the home for two major sports teams: the Carolina Panthers (an NFL football team) and Charlotte FC (a MLS soccer team).
The stadium first opened in 1996. It was called Ericsson Stadium back then. A company named Ericsson bought the rights to use their name for the stadium. Later, in 2004, a financial company called Bank of America bought the naming rights. This is why it's now called Bank of America Stadium. Many fans call it "The Bank" or "BOA."
Besides being home to the Panthers and Charlotte FC, the stadium also hosts the yearly Duke's Mayo Bowl. This is a college football game with teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and either the Southeastern Conference (SEC) or the Big Ten Conference. The stadium has hosted the ACC Championship Game many times. The biggest crowd ever for a football game here was 74,532 people on September 9, 2018.
Contents
- Choosing the Stadium's Location
- Stadium Names Over Time
- Cool Features of the Stadium
- The Carolina Panthers at Home
- How the Stadium Changed Sports Venues
- Stadium Upgrades and Renovations
- College and High School Football Games
- Soccer Matches at the Stadium
- Concerts and Other Events
- The Stadium's Future
- See also
Choosing the Stadium's Location
Before building the stadium, the Panthers team looked at several places in and around Charlotte. They wanted to find the best spot for their new home.
One idea was to build it near NASCAR's Charlotte Motor Speedway. Another option was close to the Carowinds amusement park. This spot was interesting because the 50-yard line would have been right on the border between North Carolina and South Carolina! In the end, they chose a spot in the center of Charlotte.
Stadium Names Over Time
The stadium has had a few names since it was built. When it was first being planned, people called it Carolinas Stadium. This name is still used for some events, like international soccer games.
It officially opened on August 3, 1996, as Ericsson Stadium. This was because a Swedish company, LM Ericsson, paid $25 million for the naming rights for ten years. In 2004, Bank of America bought the naming rights for 20 years. That's when it became Bank of America Stadium, which is its name today.
Cool Features of the Stadium
Bank of America Stadium has many cool things to see on the outside. The stadium uses the team's colors: black, blue, and silver. You can see these colors in the three big entrances. The arches connecting the columns look like half a football. Lots of trees and plants surround the building. Some people say the stadium looks like a "fortress" because of its strong design.
Panther Statues: Indomitable Spirit
At each main entrance, there are two huge bronze panther statues. These six statues are called "Indomitable Spirit." They were put in place in 1996. Each statue shows a panther crouching and snarling, with bright green eyes. They are some of the biggest sculptures ever made in the United States. The names of the team's first season ticket holders are carved into the base of each statue.
Light Domes and Other Statues
The stadium also has six light domes on top of the main entrances. These domes are over a hundred feet high. They used to glow the Panthers' blue color every night. During renovations in 2014, the domes were updated with LED lights. Now they can show the blue color in many different ways.
You can also find life-sized bronze statues of two important Panthers figures outside the stadium. These honor Mike McCormack, a former team executive, and Sam Mills, a former Panthers linebacker and coach.
The Carolina Panthers at Home
Bank of America Stadium has been the home of the Carolina Panthers since 1996. The team has played all its home games here. The Panthers have also hosted seven playoff games at the stadium. Since 2002, the stadium has sold out over 150 Panthers games in a row!
First Games at the Stadium
The Panthers played their very first season at another stadium while Bank of America Stadium was being built. The first professional football game at the new stadium was on August 3, 1996. It was a preseason game against the Chicago Bears, and the Panthers won 30–12. The first regular season game was on September 1, 1996, against the Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers won that game too, 29–6.
Exciting Playoff Moments
The stadium has seen many exciting playoff games. In 1996, the Panthers beat the Dallas Cowboys here on their way to their first NFC Championship Game. They beat the Cowboys again in 2004 before going to Super Bowl XXXVIII. The Panthers won their first NFC Championship game played at the stadium on January 24, 2016, beating the Arizona Cardinals 49–15.
Weather Challenges
Since it's an open-air stadium, Bank of America Stadium has experienced some wild weather.
- In 2011, a huge rainstorm caused flooding during a game. Over four inches of rain fell in less than an hour!
- On December 24, 2022, it was only 20 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff. This was the coldest home game in Panthers history.
- On June 28, 2025, a soccer match was stopped for two hours because of storms.
How the Stadium Changed Sports Venues
When Bank of America Stadium was built in the 1990s, it was a groundbreaking project. It was one of the first big stadiums in the United States to be funded mainly by selling Personal Seat Licenses (PSLs). PSLs were a new idea, and their success helped Charlotte get an NFL expansion team.
Other teams, like the Seattle Seahawks, even looked at Bank of America Stadium when designing their own new fields. By 2013, 25 new or updated stadiums had been built since Bank of America Stadium opened.
Stadium Upgrades and Renovations
For its first few years, the stadium was so modern that it only needed small changes. In 2007, the old scoreboards and video screens were replaced with bigger ones.
However, by 2013, the stadium needed more updates to keep up with other NFL stadiums. It didn't have a surround sound system, its video boards were smaller, and cell phone service was poor.
Big Renovations (2014–2017)
In 2014, the stadium began its biggest renovations ever. These upgrades happened over several years:
- 2014: Two huge HD video boards (more than twice the size of the old ones) were installed. New ribbon boards went all around the stadium. Escalators were added to help fans reach the upper deck. A new surround sound system and special "fan plazas" were also built.
- 2015: All 158 luxury suites were updated. New private club suites, like "The 32 Club" and "51 Club," were added.
- 2016: The upper-level concourse was improved with new drink stations and more Wi-Fi access points. New security scanners replaced traditional pat-downs at entrances.
- 2017: The lower-level concourse was updated with new signs and better food stands. The seating capacity increased slightly, and a new field and drainage system were installed.
Other Recent Changes
In 2019, new signs were added, and the Panthers' Hall of Honor members got new nameplates. In 2020, nearly 1000 seats were removed to create 14 "bunker suites" right at field level.
Upgrades for Soccer
When Charlotte got its new Major League Soccer team, Charlotte FC, in 2019, the stadium needed more changes. Even though the field was big enough for soccer, it wasn't set up for a full-time soccer team. Renovations included new locker rooms, camera spots, and a new tunnel entrance. A large curved video screen was added outside the east gate. In March 2021, the stadium got a new artificial turf field, replacing the grass field it had since 1996.
College and High School Football Games
Bank of America Stadium hosts many college football games, even though it's not a college team's main home.
- The ACC Championship Game is played here every December. It features the top two teams from the ACC conference.
- The Duke's Mayo Bowl is another yearly college game. It brings together teams from the ACC and either the SEC or Big Ten conferences.
- The Duke's Mayo Classic has been held at the stadium since 2015. It often features big teams from North and South Carolina.
- The stadium has also hosted several games for the East Carolina Pirates and other college rivalries.
The stadium hosted its first high school football game on August 19, 2023. Providence Day School played against Northwestern High School in the "Keep Pounding High School Classic."
Soccer Matches at the Stadium
Bank of America Stadium was designed to host soccer games from the start. With the arrival of Charlotte FC, it now regularly hosts MLS and international soccer matches.
Charlotte FC's Home Games
Charlotte FC began playing at Bank of America Stadium in 2022. Their first home game on March 5, 2022, had 74,479 fans. This set a new MLS record for attendance at a single match! For most Charlotte FC games, only the lower and club levels are used, which means about 38,000 seats are available.
International Soccer Events
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Before Charlotte FC, the stadium hosted the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship in 1999 and 2000. Since 2010, international soccer matches have become common. The stadium has hosted teams from the Premier League (England), Bundesliga (Germany), and various national teams. For example, in July 2024, it hosted a semifinal and a third-place match for the 2024 Copa América.
Concerts and Other Events
Concerts used to be rare at the stadium. But after David Tepper bought the Panthers in 2018, more music events started happening. Many famous artists have performed here.
- The Rolling Stones played concerts in 1997 and 2021.
- Country stars like Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, and Garth Brooks have held big shows.
- Billy Joel, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Elton John have also performed.
- In August 2023, Beyoncé had the highest-grossing concert in the stadium's history.
- On October 26, 2024, the "Concert for Carolina" was held to help people affected by Hurricane Helene. It had a record attendance of 82,193 people.
Other Special Events
- In 1996, a four-day Billy Graham religious event was held at the stadium.
- The stadium hosted the first Untappd Beer Festival in 2019.
- It also served as a COVID-19 vaccination site in 2021.
- The stadium hosted the Topgolf Live Stadium Series in March 2021.
- The Savannah Bananas baseball team played sold-out games here on June 6 and 7, 2025.
The Stadium's Future
The owner of the Panthers and Charlotte FC, David Tepper, has talked about building a new stadium in Uptown Charlotte. He mentioned that Bank of America Stadium, while well-kept, is getting old and expensive to maintain. The current stadium was mostly designed for football. A new stadium would be more flexible, with a retractable roof, to host soccer, concerts, and other big events.
In June 2024, the Panthers shared plans for a renovation project worth over $800 million for the current stadium. These upgrades would include new video screens, seating, lighting, and improved concourses. Construction is planned to start in 2026 and finish by 2029. This renovation could keep the stadium in use for another 20 to 30 years.
See also
In Spanish: Bank of America Stadium para niños
- Lists of stadiums
