CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Carolina Panthers fans are thankful for the return of primetime Sunday night football to Charlotte after an 11-year absence.
Many recall the last time Carolina played a game like this at Bank of America Stadium in 2015. That’s when the Panthers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-16 and appeared in the Super Bowl later in the season.
“It’s exciting,” said Jessica Williams, who remembers the stadium rocking during that game. “We’re longtime Panthers fans and premium seat license owners for years. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a primetime game.”
Carolina made a Sunday primetime appearance in 2016, but it was away in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Panthers 40-7.
“I think this is a great opportunity for us to really show the country what we’re capable of,” said Brian Medlock.
While Medlock and Williams are local Panthers fans, Ezavier Bernal is not. He traveled over 30 hours by car from Idaho to Charlotte for his first-ever Panthers game.
“It was a tough journey. It was a good journey,” he said. “It feels amazing. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance, especially since this is my first NFL game.”
Every fan is hoping the team’s success will translate into more primetime games.
“If they can continue to make the playoffs season after season, just compete, be competitive with some of these bigger market teams,” said Medlock.
Carolina has two more primetime games left this season.
* Thursday, September 29 at Green Bay at 8:15 p.m.
* Monday, November 30 at Tampa Bay at 8:15 p.m.
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