I am convinced Charlotte is only about 20% Panther fans

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

why would you cheer for the panthers when you could be a patriots, cowboys, or steelers frontrunner and be surrounded by other fans just like you?

i mean how else do people with no ties to the area become fans? and i mean people my age (mid 20s), not people who were adults before we got the panthers. i know people who cheer for the blue devils in basketball, patriots in football, and new york yankees in baseball. how else could that happen?

[CLEARHOT]

Born and raised in NC. Panther fan since 10/26/93. Ask 3/4 of these a$$hole Dallas fans who Lance Rentzel or Chuck Howley were and you get "huh?". Ask dip$hit Steeler fans about the team they merged with for a while and you get "huh?" Ask band wagon Patriot fans who Steve Grogan was and you get "huh?". Well you get the idea. I honestly belive that we have a$$holes that check our schedule, then run out , buy that teams gear the week before and show up at BoA, claiming to be "die hards". Iam and will always be an unashamed Panther fan.

[Jrock88]

why would you cheer for the panthers when you could be a patriots, cowboys, or steelers frontrunner and be surrounded by other fans just like you?

steve smith

[KJ89]

Born and raised in NC. Panther fan since 10/26/93. Ask 3/4 of these a$$hole Dallas fans who Lance Rentzel of Chuck Howley were and you get "huh?". Ask dip$hit Steeler fans about the team they merged with for a while and you get "huh?" Ask band wagon Patriot fans who Steve Grogan was and you get "huh?". Well you get the idea. I honestly belive that we have a$$holes that check our schedule, then run out , buy that teams gear the week before and show up at BoA, claiming to be "die hards". Iam and will always be an unashamed Panther fan.

This.

[Panthers_Lover]

Doesn't matter to me who people in Charlotte root for. I'm a Panthers fan and always will be, and I intend to make it back into the stands next season. (Yes, I live in South Carolina.)

[hepcat]

North Carolina's boost in population through the last few decades came from people moving from out of state, who already had allegiances to other teams. When Charlotte got the Panthers, some people switched over and started supporting the local team. But a lot didn't. And even after the Panthers have been around for almost 20 years now, more people have moved to the Carolinas from other states and never turn their support to the Panthers.

Overall I don't think a city of transplants is a good recipe for long-lasting success of an NFL franchise, but considering they "sell-out" almost every home game, I guess the business model is doing well enough.

[Firefox]

Scientific survey says 49% Panthers crowd, 27% Broncos, 24% empty seats.

[SCP]

It's unlike any other stadium or market in pro sports.

[PantherTrain84]

Agreed, whats more sad is go watch Bobcats games this season. The Cats fans are loud, cheering and on their feet despite last season's debacle. Panthers might just have worse fan base in the NFL, maybe even worse than the jaguars.

[Khaki Lackey]

I wonder how they would do in the RTP?

[SCP]

I wonder how they would do in the RTP?

RTP would suffer the same fate as Charlotte IMO. Look at Canes games when the Sabers or Rangers or Flyers come to town.

[Guest]

Agreed, whats more sad is go watch Bobcats games this season. The Cats fans are loud, cheering and on their feet despite last season's debacle. Panthers might just have worse fan base in the NFL, maybe even worse than the jaguars.

I love going to Bobcats games, I always have a good experience arena-wise, even if the team sucks.

[Khaki Lackey]

RTP would suffer the same fate as Charlotte IMO. Look at Canes games when the Sabers or Rangers or Flyers come to town.

True. I'm one of three Panthers fans in the eastern part of the state, and I don't know if the other two would be willing to drive to Raleigh every Sunday. Charlotte is a haul, though. I can't make the trip on a regular basis.

[rickyisclutch]

Yeah, Raleigh is a huge transplant area too. Though PNC Arena is rocking all the time for the Cane's, one of the loudest in the league. Those Sabres-Canes games get pretty roudy and have extra police protection. Far more "protection of the house" from the fans.