Panthers vs. Bears Week 1: Time, TV and updates
Jack Beckett·
Carolina opens the 2026 season Sunday at Bank of America Stadium against Chicago: the roster it takes in, who practiced Monday, what the Bears bring, and the injury report to come.
Venue · Uptown Charlotte
Bank of America Stadium
Opened in 1996 with 75,525 seats. Host of the 2026 MLS All-Star Game on July 29, 2026.
- Capacity
- 75,525
- Opened
- 1996
- Surface
- FieldTurf
- Address
- 800 South Mint Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Schedule
Coming up at the stadium
Next 8 events
- Sun, Sep 13 · 1:00 PM ETCarolina Panthers vs. Chicago BearsFOX
- Sat, Sep 26 · 7:30 PM ETCharlotte FC vs Chicago FireCharlotte FC
- Sun, Oct 4 · 8:20 PM ETCarolina Panthers vs. Detroit LionsNBC, Universo
- Sat, Oct 10 · 7:30 PM ETCharlotte FC vs Dallas FCCharlotte FC
- Sun, Oct 25 · 1:00 PM ETCarolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay BuccaneersFOX
- Wed, Oct 28 · 7:30 PM ETCharlotte FC vs CF MontréalCharlotte FC
- Sat, Oct 31 · 7:30 PM ETCharlotte FC vs Orlando CityCharlotte FC
- Sun, Nov 8 · 1:00 PM ETCarolina Panthers vs. Denver BroncosCBS
Before the game
Getting there
Driving
- I-85 from the south
- Billy Graham Parkway, Freedom Drive, Brookshire Freeway (I-277 East) or I-77 South
- I-85 from the north
- Sugar Creek Road, Graham Street, Statesville Avenue or I-77 South
- I-77 from the south
- John Belk Freeway (I-277) or Trade Street
- I-77 from the north
- Brookshire Freeway (I-277 East), Fifth Street, Trade Street, Morehead Street or John Belk Freeway (I-277)
- Wilkinson Boulevard (US 74) from the west
- John Belk Freeway (I-277), then Carson Boulevard, College Street, South Boulevard or Brevard Street
- Independence Boulevard (US 74) from the east
- John Belk Freeway (I-277), then Sixth Street, Fourth Street, Stonewall Street or South Boulevard
- Brookshire Freeway (I-277) from the west
- I-77 South, Graham Street, Church Street or Brevard Street
- NC 49 / US 29 from the northeast
- Tryon Street to Church Street
- From the airport
- Josh Birmingham Parkway 1.5 miles to Billy Graham Parkway South, then I-77 North; exit at John Belk Freeway (I-277) or Trade Street
Parking
More than 30,000 parking spaces within a 10 to 15 minute walk of the stadium. Advance parking through SpotHero, the stadium's parking partner.
Transit
- Blue Line: park at any Park and Ride station on the line and ride to Brooklyn Village Station, just over a football field from the stadium.
- Gold Line streetcar from Uptown.
- $4.40 round trip, Park and Ride included. Tickets through the CATS-Pass app; security checks tickets.
Rideshare
Follow your ride share app's directions for pickup and drop-off near the stadium.
Accessibility
Drop-off for guests with disabilities is at the corner of Mint and Morehead Streets. Wheelchairs, walkers, canes and crutches are allowed in, with storage at any Guest Relations booth. Wheelchairs to and from seats are available at Guest Relations booths, not at the drop-off.
Tailgating
No charcoal grilling in stadium-operated lots. Open-flame cooking at least 25 feet from any building and 10 feet from any vehicle, attended at all times and never in parking decks; coals go only in the labeled metal containers.
Bikes and scooters
No dedicated bike or scooter parking at the stadium; the nearest racks are at Romare Bearden Park along Church Street.
After the game
Getting out
After major events, Tepper Sports & Entertainment runs a traffic pattern worked out with CMPD, CDOT, CATS and Charlotte Center City Partners.
- Morehead Street
- Both sides run away from the stadium between Clarkson Street on the west and South Tryon Street on the east. If you parked west, you exit west; if you parked east, you exit east or south. Detours are in place, and anyone not attending is asked to avoid Morehead right after an event.
- Church Street and Third
- Southbound traffic on Church is turned left onto Third Street for I-277 and Providence Road. No traffic continues straight, to give pedestrians priority along Brooklyn Village Avenue.
- Graham and Mint, including Lot 1
- Drivers parked north of the stadium exit north on Graham or Mint to I-277, or west toward I-77. No right turn east until north of Trade Street.
In effect after major events since June 20, 2026. The stadium describes it as an ongoing study using fan feedback from Panthers and Charlotte FC games; ambassadors and extra signs are out on event days, and CDOT points drivers to Waze for closures. Route maps on the stadium’s site.
At the gates
What you can bring
Allowed
- Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches
- Purses, clutches or fanny packs no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches
- Seat pads without covers, zippers, clasps or pockets
- Tablets
Not allowed
- Any non-clear bag: backpacks, camera and binocular cases, cinch bags, computer bags, diaper bags, and purses larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches
- Seat cushions with covers, zippers, clasps or pockets
Containers for medical necessities: contact the stadium's director of security at 704-358-7000. Prohibited items found at the gates go back to your vehicle or are discarded.
Stadium information from the stadium’s own pages, read September 8, 2026. Official site
Coverage
Reporting from the stadium
10 linked stories
Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC Sold Its Claim on a U.S. International Forward on the Last Day of the Window. St. Louis Signed Him Before It Shut.
Jack Beckett·
Charlotte FC sold its exclusive right to sign Damion Downs, a 22-year-old United States international forward, to St. Louis CITY SC for $350,000 on the last day of Major League Soccer's transfer window. St. Louis had him signed before it closed. What a club is actually trading when it trades a place in the league's queue.
Only Evander and Messi Have More Goal Contributions Than Pep Biel
John Speedway·
Pep Biel made the MLS Team of the Matchday after a goal and an assist against D.C. United. His 19 goal contributions are tied for third in the league, behind only Evander and Messi, with two club records now in reach.
Charlotte FC Led Ten-Man Toronto by Two. It Left With a Point.
John Speedway·
Charlotte FC led 3-1 against ten-man Toronto with a half hour to play Wednesday night at BMO Field and left with a 3-3 draw. The point moved the club to 29, but FC Cincinnati passed them into fifth. D.C. United visits Bank of America Stadium Saturday.
Charlotte FC Did Almost Enough in Leagues Cup. Pachuca Made That the Problem.
Jack Beckett·
Charlotte FC conceded once in three Phase One matches, but Pachuca’s stoppage-time winner left the club waiting on the rest of the Leagues Cup table.
Charlotte FC Has Not Allowed a Leagues Cup Goal. Pachuca Is the Final Phase One Test
Jack Beckett·
Charlotte FC enters its final Leagues Cup Phase One match with six points, five goals and two clean sheets. CF Pachuca is the final test Tuesday.
Aron John Has Played One Minute of League Football for Charlotte FC. Now He's Out Five Months.
John Speedway·
Charlotte FC has four academy graduates on Homegrown contracts. Two of them, Aron John and Nimfasha Berchimas, had surgery on the same morning this week. Between them they have 132 minutes of first-team football this season. Ashley Westwood alone has 1,533.
Charlotte FC Beat Pumas 3-0 in a Tournament It Keeps Leaving Early
John Speedway·
Charlotte FC opened Leagues Cup with a 3-0 win over Pumas UNAM on Tuesday night, banking the maximum three points from a three-match format it has crashed out of two Augusts running. The other story never touched the scoreboard: Nathan Richmond's debut made him the fourth Crown Legacy product to reach the first team this year.
Charlotte FC Sold Kerwin Vargas to Brazil. His Last Touch Was an Assist.
John Speedway·
Charlotte FC sold winger Kerwin Vargas to Athletico Paranaense of the Brazilian First Division for what the club calls one of the largest fees in its history, keeping a sell-on percentage. He arrived in 2022 as a U-22 signing and leaves with 37 goal contributions in 147 matches, including the Decision Day goal that clinched Charlotte's first playoff berth.
Charlotte FC Beat Red Bull New York Home and Away, by a Combined 8-1
Jack Beckett·
Charlotte FC won 2-0 at Red Bull New York on Saturday, its first win at that ground, completing a two-match season series it took by a combined 8-1. According to the club it is the first time Charlotte has won every meeting with an opponent in a single season.
Other coverage in the Mercury Local network
- Charlotte FC Is Down the Street. The Rest of Charlotte Sports Requires a Screen.Fourth Ward Charlotte · August 11, 2026
- Charlotte Sports This Week: One Home Match, One Long Road Trip and Some Awkward MathStrolling Firethorne · August 11, 2026
- Charlotte Sports, Minus the Homework: What Matters This WeekStrolling Ballantyne · August 10, 2026