How is the support for the Panthers in the Carolinas changing?

[Bourbarian]

I'm taking a night class with a bunch of kids fresh out of high school (I'm old). So far this semester I've seen two of these 19 or 20 year olds rock a Panthers t-shirt. Both girls. One was pregnant, so I say that counts as three new young fans. 

We're getting there. 

[Red Zone]

I understand we have additional support due to winning, but the fan base is growing because young people who've been around the Panthers all their lives, are becoming of age.

I've also worked hard like many others making sure my grandkids are being raised properly as diehard Panther fans. It's actually not work it's fun.

 

Go Panthers

[Raucous]

I'll put it this way. Five or six years ago, Hickory Tavern would refuse to show Panthers games. Now, it and similar restaurants play the game with sound.

[Panthers8969]

I'll tell you how its changing. Burlington grocery stores won't fuging sell the special panthers bud light. WTF HT, FL, etc. Stop selling the normal fuging bud light u ass hats

[Kuhndog94]

Half of the people on my Facebook that were saints fans a few years back are Panthers fans now, so there's that. 

[Raucous]

There are still FOX affiliates in South Carolina who show Falcons games over Panthers ones, so that's troubling as well.

[panthers55]

Anyone over the age of 40 was likely a fan of another team besides the Panthers. So there is no reason we shouldn't welcome new fans as well as folks around since our inception. Sometimes it take  a while for people to figure out what some of us have now for almost 2 decades. 

[Pantera_Negro_Mateo]

I haven't noticed a significant difference. Panthers gear was already a pretty common sight here in Winston-Salem. Although I have been overhearing a lot of excited conversations about the Panthers.

[RoaringRiot]

5 hours ago, Pantera_Negro_Mateo said:

I haven't noticed a significant difference. Panthers gear was already a pretty common sight here in Winston-Salem. Although I have been overhearing a lot of excited conversations about the Panthers.

I heard there's a huge difference at the Carolina Ale House at Hanes Mall. 

[RoaringRiot]

7 hours ago, Panthers8969 said:

I'll tell you how its changing. Burlington grocery stores won't fuging sell the special panthers bud light. WTF HT, FL, etc. Stop selling the normal fuging bud light u ass hats

Easy fix....stop drinking that corn water poo and drink a real beer. 

[Kakarot]

You specifically mentioned Winston. It's gotten much better in the city. Go to Hanes mall on a Saturday or Sunday, and you'll see a great deal of people wearing Panther gear. I was in Wal Mart while in kernersville a couple Sunday's ago, and it seemed like every other person was in a panthers jersey 

[CoastalCat]

21 hours ago, KillaCamNewton said:

Be honest with me here. I havent lived in NC since 2002 and back then the state was still a majority of Redskin and Steeler fans. I remember it being a big deal to see someone at a grocery store in Winston-Salem wearing Panthers gear instead of another team. Going to every home game from 96-2001 I remember almost every game being split about 50-50 between Panther fans and the away team, and I went to the last game of the season in 04 against the Saints the year after the Super Bowl year and there still wasnt much buzz about the Panthers around the state.

That being said, just from watching on TV this year I can tell theres much more energy in BOA now and I can tell our fanbase has become much more passionate as a whole. My question for you natives is, have the Carolinas finally adopted the Panthers as "The" team of the region?

I might be 50/50 again on Sunday...

[Khyber53]

I dunno, I thought we were kind of a big deal.

[Davidson Deac II]

22 hours ago, Servant of Cthululelei said:

It's not actually.  The team is naturally getting more support over time, too. Because people like me (age 25) have grown up with the Panthers.  We now buy jerseys and tickets and reproduce.

The success obviously matters too, but it's not all bandwagoners in Panther nation anymore.

Agreed, and it seems even more prevalent with the much younger crowd.  I have noticed that several of my 8 year nephews school friends claim to be panther fans.  They outnumber fans of other all other NFL teams combined in his class.  And he lives in Winston Salem.  Cam seems to be a very popular player among the younger crowd.  Hopefully that translates into more Panther fans in the state and fewer fans of other teams (especially fewer Cowboy fans).

Sadly it might also means i-85 will be much busier on game day.