Carolina Panthers

Bank of America Stadium
800 S. Mint St., Charlotte
704/358-7000
www.panthers.com [1]

The bid to bring an NFL team to the Carolinas began in 1987 when former Baltimore Colts wide receiver Jerry Richardson began lobbying for a team in the region. In 1992 league owners announced five cities as possible sites for expansion teams, and the Carolinas made the cut.

The final vote was slated for October, 1992, but labor disputes between the league and the players delayed the decision. On October 26, 1993, the league announced that the Carolinas had been unanimously chosen to receive the newest NFL franchise—the first new NFL team since 1976.

In 1995, the Panthers played its first season at Clemson University in South Carolina before moving to Bank of America Stadium in Uptown. In honor of the hometown team, the lights in the crown atop the Bank of America building [2] glow blue after the Panthers win a home game.

The Panthers have been to the NFC championship three times (1996, 2003, and 2005). They advanced to the Super Bowl in 2003 and lost to the New England Patriots (32–29) for the NFL championship.

The Panthers’ most notable players include Mike Minter, who holds team records for the most game starts, consecutive starts, fumble recoveries, and interceptions resulting in touchdowns; Stephen Davis, the All-Pro running back who led the team to the Superbowl in 2003; and flamboyant All-Pro linebacker Kevin Greene, who helped the team make it to the NFC championship during their second year in the NFL.