CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The roar of the fans in Bank of America Stadium has been replaced by the sound of construction equipment temporarily.
Crews are removing eight rows from the west end zone to build 14 bunker suites.
"It is complete stadium enhancement," VP of Ticket Sales and Services Joe LaBue said. "We feel like it is going to make the stadium more viable."
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The Panthers are modeling the suites after similar offerings in Madison Square Garden and at Wrigley Field. Each suite will be able to hold 12 people. The seats will be in the open air and there will be private all-inclusive food and drink sections for suite guests.
The progress comes at a cost. About 900 seats are being removed from section 104. The Panthers said 380 PSL holders are being displaced.
"We understand the sensitive nature of this," LaBue said. "We are really excited about the project. We knew this was a part of it. We were very intentional and thought out about how this would take place."
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The team is individually calling all of the PSL holders to let them know about the changes. Account holders will have the option to move their seats to any available lower-level seat in their current PSL location at no additional PSL cost and no additional ticket price increase.
They also have the option to move to a more expensive PSL location in the lower bowl with no additional PSL cost, but with an increased ticket price. If account holders decide not to relocate, reimbursements will be offered.
Of the hundreds of fans impacted, one happens to be one of the biggest, Catman Jr.
“When I found out it was my end zone I was very upset and very emotional,” Gregory Good, also known as Catman Jr., said.
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He and his father sat in that section every game before his dad, legendary Panthers fan Catman, died last summer.
The changes mean Good has to move to section 125 and leave fans that have become more than strangers.
"We're all family, we all root and cheer for the same thing," he said. "Being separated from them hurts too."
The luxury suites are expected to be in place by the 2020 season kickoff.
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