Carolina Huddle

The drama and excitement of the NFL season begins at training camp, and fans of the Carolina Panthers get a front-row seat at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.

For the fans, it’s the thrill of pads-to-pads clashes and awesome connections of passer to receiver from a ground-level vantage point and the chance to walk away with memories, and maybe even an autograph or two.

For Spartanburg, it’s the pride of being put on the sports-world map and reaping the benefits of a $1 million-plus economic impact that hosting the training camp brings.

“Since the Panthers appeared in the Super Bowl, attendance to training camp has more than doubled – from an average of 10,000 to 12,000 each year to nearly 24,000 in 2004, our largest attendance at that point, and more than 21,000 in 2005,” says Jules Bryant, executive director of the Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

A record 25,370 fans attended camp in 2006, Bryant notes, adding that this year is expected to be big again as Wofford hosts the 13th camp.

All that means Spartanburg’s hotels, restaurants, shops and malls are reaping the benefits promised when the community came together in its campaign to “Make Spartanburg the Summer Home of the Carolina Panthers.”

“Visitors flock to Spartanburg to be able to see these elite athletes prepare for their grueling season,” says Mike Shetterly, an Upstate, S.C., attorney who chairs Team Spartanburg, the sports council of the CVB. “We saw a $1.3 million economic impact on our community during the 2004 season, when we last did a survey of expenditures made by the team, the fans and the media who come from all over the country to cover the Panthers. They all say ‘Spartanburg’ in their reports, and that kind of exposure is tough to put a price tag on.”

The city seems to become energized when the Panthers arrive, as street banners and flags can be seen. Downtown is alive with fans eating and shopping between practices. “Our newly renovated Morgan Square offers a beautiful respite, and it’s surrounded by great restaurants and quaint shops,” Bryant says.

Spartanburg offers fun aplenty throughout the downtown area as well as the surrounding county. There are some must-eat restaurants, some must-see attractions and some must-do activities.

The world-famous Beacon Drive-In is one of those legendary places that visitors seem to already know when they arrive. Offering their famous Southern sweet tea, hash aplenty plates, Pig’s Dinner massive ice cream bowls, and much more, it’s often the first stop once fans venture away from camp. The restaurant is just a short drive from Wofford, and the experience is one to be remembered. Don’t worry – J.C. Stroble’s “Call it!” anthem urging patrons to quickly order their food is meant to add to the experience, not to frighten.

Closer to camp – within a short driving distance or even walking distance for the hearty – is downtown Spartanburg’s Morgan Square, featuring Wild Wing Café, Delaney’s Irish Pub, locally owned Abby’s Grill, Thai cuisine at the Lime Leaf, sandwiches at Café on Morgan Square (formerly The Sandwich Factory), coffee at The Crossroads Coffee Shop, and the brand new Justin’s Steak House. On the western end, you’ll also find Carriage House Wines and Miyako sushi bar, and around the corner is Sonny’s Brick Oven Pizza. Brasserie Ecosse, a new casual upscale restaurant offering “robust” cuisine, handcrafted beers and affordable wines, has located downstairs from The Showroom at Hub-Bub on nearby Daniel Morgan Avenue. A brief walk up East Main Street, you’ll find Café Ishi offering coffees and specialty drinks, and Oscar’s Tapas restaurant and martini bar.

Other restaurants and bars in the downtown area, offering a variety of menus, include Club 299 at the Marriott Spartanburg at Renaissance Park, Boots’ & Sonny’s Drive-In (famous for its hot dogs with chili), Krispy Kreme (doughnuts), Nu-Way (good, greasy burgers and more), Papa’s Breakfast Nook, Peddler Steak House, Renato’s Italian Restaurant, Ribault Street Eatery, Ricky’s Drive-In (more hot dogs), Sugar and Spice Drive-In (don’t forget the baklava) and Venus Pie Pizzeria.

Spartanburg has long had an international flair, and being the home of BMW’s only North American manufacturing facility bolsters that reputation. The plant, located on Interstate 85, about 15 miles south of the city, manufactures the popular Z4 and X5 models. The BMW Zentrum adjacent to the plant offers tours for groups and individuals interested in learning about BMW. In addition to high-tech exhibits, the Zentrum features a unique collection of “art cars” designed by famous artists such as Andy Warhol and Frank Stella, as well as BMW racing models, motorcycles and event airplanes. Tours of the factory can be arranged in advance for a nominal fee.

Fine arts abound in and around Spartanburg. Whether is an Artists Guild exhibit at the Spartanburg Arts Museum (SAM), locally produced works at the Carolina Foothills Artisan Center in Chesnee (northeastern Spartanburg County) or at Wofford College, Converse College or another one of the community’s six colleges, paintings, sculptures and other works of art are available for viewing throughout the community.

Spartanburg also offers a variety of musical, theater and other performance arts opportunities.

On Thursdays in August and September, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., is Music on Main, a free outdoor concert series at Denny’s Plaza on East Main Street in downtown, featuring local and regional musical groups. Some local restaurants and bars also feature live music throughout the week and weekends.

If history is your thing, Spartanburg’s the place. Its rich history dates back to Colonial times and is on display at every turn. A key battle of the American Revolution was fought here, and now the National Park Service protects and preserves the Cowpens National Battlefield, located north of downtown off I-85.

Walnut Grove Plantation, located off U.S. Highway 221 in Roebuck, allows visitors to experience “life on the frontier” during Revolutionary times. Built in 1763, the home vividly portrays life in Spartanburg County at the turn of the 19th century. In addition to tours of the main abode, visitors can view the wheat house, smoke house, blacksmith forge, barn, well, house, herb garden and family graveyard.

Other historical sites include the Price House off Highway 221 near Woodruff and the Jamie Seay house in the city of Spartanburg. Information on these and other historical sites can be obtained from the Spartanburg County Historical Association.

You don’t even have to leave campus to enjoy a nice walk of Wofford College’s nationally recognized arboretum, which encompasses the entire 170-acre campus. Two self-guided tours are available, with maps downloadable from college’s Web site at www.wofford.edu/arboreum or at the Admission Office. Also downloadable to your iPod or other MP3 player is full audio of the arboretum tours so you can hear full descriptions of the plants as you walk along.

Wofford also features a portion of the Hub City Connector of the Palmetto Trail that runs through South Carolina, from the mountains to the sea. The campus is linked to Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System’s Liberty Park by way of the Liberty Trail, part of the Connector, which features the J.R. Gross Cascading Steps water feature.

Wofford’s arboretum is one of several on the community’s college campuses, including the University of South Carolina Upstate and Spartanburg Community College.

Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve is an oasis of green and wildlife in the middle of the city of Spartanburg. Paved and groomed trails cover 10 acres of ground, containing more than 10,000 plants. Recently upgraded with new educational and interpretive signs, Hatcher Garden is the perfect place to learn about the plants and animals in the area. Whether picnicking or just strolling, you could spend hours there in the company of native birds and babbling brooks.

At the Roger Milliken Research and Customer Center, a short drive from training camp, you’ll find another arboretum featuring hundreds of tree and plant specimens on 600 acres with ponds, meadows and fountains. Popular with runners and walkers, the center has several walking and fitness trails. Plenty of open spaces makes Milliken a great spot for a picnic, kite flying, pick-up football and soccer games. Don’t forget to pick up a loaf of bread for feeding the ducks and geese at the pond.

Speaking of animals, a trip to Hollywild Animal Park near Inman, in the northwestern part of the county, is one of the most scenic and culturally diverse areas of the state’s Upcountry. Nestled on more than 100 acres, Hollywild is home to one of the largest collections of rare and exotic animals in the Southeast, including the black Panther, and many of its animals are “zooperstars” of movies and commercials. The park is open seven days a week.

If you want something a little tamer, there’s plenty of shopping to be had at Spartanburg’s WestGate Mall on the west side of town, Hillcrest Specialty Row on the east side, boutiques and locally owned specialty shops in downtown, and the Prime Outlets in nearby Gaffney.

Fans have come to expect the best from the Panthers, Spartanburg and Wofford College – and they get it.

The facilities at Wofford consistently are cited as being among the best in the NFL, and national media organizations have recognized such programs as Panther Pals as traditions.

In 2005, SI.com’s Peter King ranked Wofford the fifth-best NFL training camp location, and the Christian Science Monitor touted the Panthers Pal program as an excellent way for fans to see, and perhaps meet, the “Real American Idols.”

“If you’re a 10-year-old kid with a fan-crush on Jake Delhomme, chances are you’ll meet him before the day’s out,” King wrote of training camp at Wofford, highlighting the Panther Pals program in which five children are selected at random during morning practices for special treatment. They get uniquely designed T-shirts, go to a special viewing area on the practice field, then are matched with a player or group of players. They may carry players’ helmets or shoulder pads, and hang out as the players sign autographs and walk to the locker room. More than 1,000 youngsters, ages 6 to 13, registered for the program last year, the fourth year for the partnership of the Panthers, Wofford and Team Spartanburg.

King added in his “Inside the NFL” column, “Shake the hands. Meet the players. Fans are no farther than 10 or 15 yards from the sidelines during practice, and if the workout is in Wofford’s (Gibbs) stadium, the seats are close. Wherever you are, you can clearly hear coaches coaching.”

Christian Science Monitor put the Panther Pals program in the same class as the 40+-year-old tradition of Green Bay players riding kids’ bicycles to practice. Writer Erik Spanberg pointed out that almost half of the NFL’s 32 teams use their regular-season practice facilities as training camp headquarters. Whether they train at home or relocate to “tiny destinations . . . fans benefit from improved access to players in a relaxed atmosphere and, in most locations, free admission and parking.”

The tradition of Panther Pals will continue this year. Panther Pals offers children between the ages of 6 and 13 a special opportunity to watch part of select morning practices from field level and then spend time with a player or small group of players after practice. Each day’s experience is unique and dependent on player schedules and availability as determined by the Panthers.

Children can register for their chance to be a Panther Pal at the Spartanburg Convention & Visitors Bureau/Team Spartanburg tent at the morning practice on July 28, July 30, Aug. 1, Aug. 3, Aug. 6, Aug. 8, Aug. 13 and Aug. 15. The tent is located outside the main gate to the practice fields. Five names will be randomly chosen about 30 minutes before the end of the practice session. The children selected will receive a Panther Pal T-shirt and will be escorted to a special area to watch the conclusion of practice.


When practice is over, Panther Pals meet the participating players, talk to them, and stay with them while they sign autographs on their way to the training facility.


During camp, the team also offers the Panthers Experience, another activity geared toward children involving a series of interactive games where fans can test their football skills. Those activities are free as well. The schedule is available on the Panthers’ Web site.

Panthers merchandise and food concessions also are available on-site for purchase. Attendance to camp is free of charge, including free parking. Fans are reminded that prohibited items include alcoholic beverages, coolers, pets and video cameras. Bring lawn chairs, blankets or towels for sitting, and remember to bring a Sharpie-style marker and item for all those autographs you’ll want to add to your collection.

For information about hotels, restaurants, shopping and other activities, contact the Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-374-TEAM or (864) 594-5000 or go to www.VisitSpartanburg.com.

More details about Panthers Training Camp and other sports events in Spartanburg, visit the Team Spartanburg Web site at www.TeamSpartanburgSC.org. For more about Wofford College, go to www.Wofford.edu or call (864) 597-4180.