CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Panthers will play the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, but the outcome of the game could determine which city gets to officially call itself the real "Queen City."
The City of Charlotte has announced the Queen City Bowl -- a friendly social media challenge issued to the City of Cincinnati to determine the real "Queen City."
With both the North Carolina and Ohio cities staking claim to the nickname, the real Queen City will be determined by the outcome of the Panthers/Bengals game in Cincinnati on Sunday.
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"The Panthers-Bengals game is always a spirited occasion, but this year's 'Queen City Bowl' challenge is adding even more excitement to Sunday's match-up," said Mayor Dan Clodfelter. "We look forward to a Panthers victory and our rightful claim to the Queen City title."
Leading up to the Queen City Bowl, each city will share facts about its history and community, engage residents through social media and show support for their respective hometown teams to build fan participation.
Both cities have agreed that the loser of the Queen City Bowl must issue the winner a symbolic item relevant to its city. Items will be announced following Sunday's game. In addition to social media participation, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority will create a website where fans can vote on who they believe to be the real Queen City.
The City of Charlotte's history behind the Queen City nickname refers to Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who was the wife of King George III of Great Britain. Cincinnati's claim to the name refers to its population growth in the late eighteenth century which led to residents coining the term "The Queen of the West."
To learn more about the Queen City Bowl, click here, as content will be updated daily.
You can also follow the conversation on Twitter by using #QCBowl.
WSOC
