The Carolina Panthers returned to Death Valley on Thursday, inviting fans to watch the team’s preseason practice and celebrate the kick-off to their 30th season.
Clemson University’s Memorial Stadium was home to the Carolina Panthers for the first season in 1995, while Bank of America Stadium was being built in Charlotte, N.C.
Hundreds of fans traveled from near and far to take part in the football festivities. Fan fest attendees were able to watch the Panthers’ open practice, buy team merchandise, enjoy a fireworks show and see franchise legends Jonathan Stewart, Thomas Davis and Muhsin Muhammad.
Thursday’s fan fest was one of 15 open practices the Panthers are hosting this season and the only one held in South Carolina.
The Panthers moved their training camp from Wofford College in Spartanburg to Charlotte this season, ending the franchise’s tradition that was in place since the team’s inception (except for the 2020 COVID season).
Some fans, like Wesley Hall and his daughter, Camila, of High Point, N.C., came dressed to impress. Hall has been a Panthers fan since the team’s inception.
My outfit is inspired by the 2003 team that went to the Super Bowl, nicknamed the Cardiac Cats,” said Wesley, when the idea for the outfit struck while stuck in a traffic jam.
On the car, the radio played a commercial for the podcast Cardiac about the 2003 team, and immediately after came an ad for a cardiologist.
