Panthers spending up to $20M to add suites at field level

CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers are adding field-level suites with premium food and beverage at Bank of America Stadium next season. On Friday, the team showed reporters the early stages of construction in the west end zone, where the suites will replace 900 existing seats.

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Each of the 14 suites will have a minimum capacity of 12 people. The probable full capacity for the new suite section will be 168 to 180 people, the team estimated. Prices have not been set, but field-level suites, known as bunker suites in the industry, are more expensive and exclusive than regular tickets and usually require contracts of five years or more.

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“The real attraction is they’re sold on multi-year contracts and typically they’re sold to corporations,” said Bob Boland, who has consulted on stadium design and now teaches sports business at Penn State University. “As a team, you’re not subject to the vicissitudes of seasons and teams and coaches (with long-term commitments).”

An industry source estimated the cost of construction at $15 million to $20 million. The Panthers are paying for the addition without taxpayer help. A team spokesman said this is the first of several off-season stadium projects scheduled for 2020.