CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A coronavirus-killing robot is just one of the tools the Carolina Panthers will use on Sunday when they welcome fans back inside Bank of America Stadium for the first time amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
On a normal game day, close to 75,000 fans would pack into the stadium, but because of COVID-19 restrictions only 5,200 will be allowed to attend Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.
>> Channel 9′s Allison Latos spoke one-on-one with Panthers president Tom Glick about what fans can expect. Watch the video at the top of the page to find out what protocols have been put in place.
On Thursday, Panthers president Tom Glick spoke with Channel 9 about preparations for Sunday’s game as well as what fans can expect in light of enhanced cleaning and health precautions. Carolina had no fans in the stadium for its home opener on Sept. 13 and has since played back-to-back road games.
Among the changes for attending a game:
• Face coverings are required in all parts of the stadium, beginning when a fan gets in line to enter the stadium. Coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth; fans who refuse or don’t comply will be removed from the stadium.
• Fans will use the North and East gates to enter the stadium.
• All fans must go through touchless temperature scans. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees and above can wait 10 to 15 minutes to be retested and, if their temperature remains elevated, neither they nor the people with them will be allowed in the stadium.
• All tickets are mobile, and all transactions are cashless. Unused seats have been closed to ensure social distancing is maintained.
• Fans can only remove face coverings to eat and drink. Concessions options this season include pre-ordered meals to pick up at select locations to minimize lines and groups of people near each other.
• Two separate one-way lanes will divide the concourse to improve traffic flow and avoid congestion.
• Air quality monitoring systems created in partnership with Honeywell, more frequent and enhanced cleaning of high-touch surfaces and the use of what the team bills as germ-zapping robots made by San Antonio-based Xenex are among the steps and protocols added to combat the novel coronavirus at the stadium. The robots use UV rays to kill bacteria and germs.
• Food is being served in disposable, single-use containers and menus have been tailored to increase speed of service. Signs have been put in place around the stadium and on the floor to remind fans to maintain their distance from each other.
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