Retractable Roof

[Seltzer]

A lot of fans have dumped on this, including me, but after yesterday I get the rationale for doing it for football reason, beyond just the commercial viability for Tepper.  To state the obvious, the stands did look empty, especially towards the end of both halves. However, if you weren't there, it's hard to explain just how brutal it was.

This was the hottest game I've ever been to in 13 years of being a PSL holder. The only game that came close was the season opener with Buffalo a couple of years ago. Fans for the most part stayed at the game, they just moved to the concourse for self-preservation. A lot of fans came back out for the 2nd half, but again by the end had moved inside. 

There is no doubt IMO the heat directly affected our home-field advantage.  I know people talk about it affecting the opposing team more than the Panthers who practice in the heat, but here's the thing... both team have shade and water spray on the sidelines- they're not cooking when they're not on the field.

The fans have zero protection in the stands.  I sit on the "shady side" of the stadium and it still was a furnace.  

I can't imagine what it was like on the visitor's side of the stadium, the "sunny side."  The club level especially was practically empty, but those fans could either risk heat-stroke (and I heard there was several cases), or go sit in the air-conditioning.  Most of them chose not to tempt death, and that's really not over-exaggerating the conditions.

I got there early to be part of the flag holding ceremony which was incredibly cool.  I was standing right next to Andrew Whitworth and the offensive line- those are some big guys BTW, but it meant being in the sun for 5+ hours. After the game, I was even questioning my commitment to doing this again (going to a game in this kind of heat).

I am now 100% in favor of having a retractable roof for a game like this.  I have no idea if it would have made a difference in the game, but it is too hard to try to be loud and create a home-field advantage when you are trying to prevent heat stroke. 

It would be worth it to Tepper (who wants to give the team the best shot at success) to make the investment for even 1 game a year to prevent yesterday from a viewing experience.  He built the practice bubble to give the players a respite when the temperatures are just too damn hot.  Yesterday was just too damn hot to be an effective fan in the stands.

 

[Daddy_Uncle]

I bet Tepper was thinking about the entire game. I'm sure he was pissed seeing all the empty seats. He is all about home field advantage and I know this didn't make him happy

[Cary Kollins]

I had several out of state friends texting asking where all the panthers fans are.

 

sigh

[joeyxfresco]

A canopy like Miami has would be perfect 

[Seltzer]

1 minute ago, Daddy_Uncle said:

I bet Tepper was thinking about the entire game. I'm sure he was pissed seeing all the empty seats. He is all about home field advantage and I know this didn't make him happy

You're right about him probably not being happy but to call out the fans is unfair.

And people can say the team wasnt playing well, blah blah blah, I've been at most games for 13 years. Fans dont just abandon the stands after paying NFL prices for nothing. 

Fans have set through much worse performances. The game was competitive all the way through.

There was just no escape from that oppressive heat except to go inside.

And to a lot of fans credit, a lot of them came back even on the sunny side after the Panthers got to within 3 points to try to tough it out. 

[Knockout]

From a TV viewing perspective, it's nicer to see the team play in different elements.  But as you said it hurts home field advantage because a lot of fans don't want to pay hundreds of dollar to sit in miserable heat or rain.  Because Tepper is one of the richest guys around, I'm going to guess he doesn't want to alienate fans who don't want to brave the elements and will try to install a roof sometime soon.

[Seltzer]

3 minutes ago, joeyxfresco said:

A canopy like Miami has would be perfect 

Anything at all would be better. I'm confident it was 100+ with the heat index, and the humidity was stifling.

Even had the Panthers been able to pull it out yesterday, it still wasnt a good experience. It was simply too hot to not be miserable.

I don't imagine any other games this year will be anywhere close. Tampa is at night, and by our next home game the temperature will be down some.

People from the Carolinas are use to heat. But there's a limit to just how much the body can endure.

Again, Tepper has the money. It would be worth it for 1 game a year to ensure a good home-field advantage.

[Seltzer]

2 minutes ago, Knockout said:

From a TV viewing perspective, it's nicer to see the team play in different elements.  But as you said it hurts home field advantage because a lot of fans don't want to pay hundreds of dollar to sit in miserable heat or rain.  Because Tepper is one of the richest guys around, I'm going to guess he doesn't want to alienate fans who don't want to brave the elements and will try to install a roof sometime soon.

I like seeing games in the elements too. I was at the monsoon game in 2011 and plenty of good that didnt have perfect weather. So what- I think football should be played outside for the most part. I love BOA as a stadium and the unknown elements weather can bring.

But yesterday was different. You can bundle up for snow. The only way to escape that level of heat was to go inside.

It was kind of like the Vikings playoff game a couple of years back in like minus 20 degree weather that few fans went to... at some point it's foolish to risk your life over a game, regardless of how much you love your team.

I would never be a fan of closing in all or even any game where it wasnt necessary to preserve home field advantage and fan's health. But yesterday it would have been worth it.

[MVPccaffrey]

It wasn't that bad, put on some damn sunscreen and keep hydrated - that means maybe put down the Bud Light for three hours. 

If NC and SC panther fans are so concerned with the heat maybe they should stop voting in presidential elections for candidates who are climate change deniers.  

 

[Seltzer]

10 minutes ago, MVPccaffrey said:

It wasn't that bad, put on some damn sunscreen and keep hydrated - that means maybe put down the Bud Light for three hours. 

If NC and SC panther fans are so concerned with the heat maybe they should stop voting in presidential elections for candidates who are climate change deniers.  

 

2 Things:

1) You obviously weren't at the game.  Sunscreen may protect you from a potential sunburn, but it's not going to do anything against heat stroke, which was a major concern yesterday.  As for the dumb quip about beer, most people I saw weren't drinking yesterday, especially after early on- I assure you that's not ideal for Tepper and the business side of the business.

2) I don't care about your politics, but elected officials have nothing to do with the heat yesterday.  That was just pathetic trolling.

[joemac]

Yeah, im glad I decided to save my 400 dollars or so and not drag my family out to sit in that all day yesterday.

[joemac]

15 minutes ago, MVPccaffrey said:

It wasn't that bad, put on some damn sunscreen and keep hydrated - that means maybe put down the Bud Light for three hours. 

If NC and SC panther fans are so concerned with the heat maybe they should stop voting in presidential elections for candidates who are climate change deniers.  

 

LMFAO.  Yes, it being 90 degrees in the summertime, in Charlotte is TOTALLY climate change, and not just the way it has always been.  Good stuff, guy.

[TPanther920]

2 minutes ago, Seltzer said:

2 Things:

1) You obviously weren't at the game.  Sunscreen may protect you from a potential sunburn, but it's not going to do anything against heat stroke, which was a major concern yesterday.  As for the dumb quip about beer, most people I saw weren't drinking yesterday, especially after early on- I assure you that's not ideal for Tepper and the business side of the business.

2) I don't care about your politics, but elected officials have nothing to do with the heat yesterday.  That was just pathetic trolling.

I was there. I witnessed several people struggling with heat. You could hardly move on the concourse anywhere there was shade.  It was f'n hot. I'm not a fan of domes. But damn I wished we had had one yesterday

[PanthersBigD]

I sat on the 'shaded' side of the stadium as well, and the sun never moved below the back of the upper deck, so the entire stadium got full sun for the entire game. Very few people around us were drinking beer. The stands were sometimes empty, partially because so many fans were hiding from the sun in the tunnels. They'd come back to their seats after a while, but it was brutal for fans with children or elderly parents, and you can't just send them out by themselves. 

I'd love a retractable dome on our stadium, if that's something that can be retrofitted onto our current stadium.