Overall fan interest down?

[pstall]

It's the heat man. I know people even bypassing their neighborhood pool.

[Wither]

It's the heat man. I know people even bypassing their neighborhood pool.

It's that pedophile that hangs out around there that keeps me away.

[Niner National]

Maybe some people are just burnt out on it? I went once, that was enough for me.

With the rise of mobile video and discussion forums, I'm sure many people are simply turning to the internet for their training camp information. Hell, the Panthers are posting videos themselves on Facebook.

I was listening to sports talk radio in DC today on my way to work and they were claiming to have the same problem.

[PantherExpress]

I plan on coming down with 2-3 friends in a week. This will be my first year attending and I'm really excited about going.

[Wither]

Are there any females down there? It's not so fun being around a bunch of hot sweaty guys unless your name is nc_biscuit (well, I was going to say Saltman but I thought I'd lay off him for a while.)

[dimbee]

Not surprising that attendance is down, really. A lot of not just "big name" players but also fan favorite players were jettisoned in the offseason.

[Argus Plexus]

I've never followed the Panthers so closely in my life. This is shaping up to be the most interesting Training Camp so far. I assume that it will be one of the more interesting seasons to watch unfold since 03.

[Brooklyn Bully]

"Hicksville"

Meh, that insult is as old as the Bible. City folk making fun of country folk. I wouldn't put too much stock in it.

[pstall]

This is why it's a good idea at least one year out of 4 have it a different location.

[Evil Hurney]

The 8+ hour round trip from Raleigh is the thing keeping me from being there.

[CosmoGirl]

I hate to drive. It would be nice if a couple days a week to have charter buses from the stadium to training camp - especially for the evening practice. I'd do that even if I had to pay a little.

[panthers55]

For the average fan I really doubt if the economy is the major reason people are staying away but I expect it the reason that most people will give. I think it is more that with so many veterans gone many who were really popular, and the low expectations, there is less enthusiasm to go to camp. Players that fans lined up to see like Peppers, Jake, Hoover, Moose etc are gone. Even guys like Smith and Stewart while still on the team, aren't practicing this summer. Add some heat and you have a great formula for low attendance. So when people are not that excited, they will find reasons to justify why they are not going. And money and gas are great reasons. Truth is that camp is the cheapest way to see the players for guys who can't afford tickets to the game. You can get much closer to the players at camp than you can at a game unless you pay for lower level game tickets close to the field.

Wouldn't be surprised if Fan Fest is down as well.

[panthers55]

The 8+ hour round trip from Raleigh is the thing keeping me from being there.

I make the trip from Shelby (an hour west of Charlotte) to Greenville, NC several times in the fall to see the Pirates on Saturday and still see the Panthers that Sunday (9 hours round trip). I know for some folks that seems like a killer trip but it surely can be done. Not saying you are wrong for not going but where there is a will there is a way.

[ed bell]

Went to the July 31st A.M. practice and had a great time. I haven't been in a long time, but this year seemed to be the year to check it out again.....a turning point....The weather was about as good as you could hope for in the dead of summer...

A couple quick questions:

Is there any difference between the AM and PM schedules/drills/agenda/field location, on a regular basis?

Do the practices change much in structure as the weeks go by? Full contact, different drills, ect.....

I'm gonna go back, but I wanted to make a good decision on when I when I should try to check it out again.