Who all is headed to training camp?

[Panthers_Lover]

I forgot about Hub Diggity Dog and Bagette & Co. On Wall Street off Mirgan Square. 

[UpstatePanther]

I will be there the 31st, 7th, and 14th. Work will keep me from attending other practices.

That said, I also plan to attend the Kickoff Party and Fan Fest since they are in the evening. If Fan Fest is anything like it was last year, it's gonna be amazing. 

[UpstatePanther]

16 hours ago, OnlyPantherFaninMaine said:

 Last year the only game I attended was the Super Bowl

Lucky you to be able to attend the Super Bowl, but man it had to suck to watch a couple thousand dollars fly away in the wind. :/ my heart was broken enough watching it on tv. I'd be on suicide watch or something seeing it in person.

[CatMan72]

Took the whole week of the 25th off, will try to make it several times but not exactly sure when. 

[KJ89]

I'll be there with the Roaring Riot of course

[uncpanther]

On 7/14/2016 at 8:35 AM, Nick_81 said:

Everything you need to know...

http://www.carolinahuddle.com/2016/06/17/carolina-panthers-training-camp-schedule/

Thanks!

I was wondering how early I need to get there to park in lot "A" next to the stadium and to get a good spot (at the player entrance/exit) for my son and I to get autographs. I'm sure it starts getting crowded early.

Was planning on going Monday August 1st.

Thanks again!

[Crazydounut]

Can't. With school and HS football in August I don't have time. That and its a 2 hour long trip to Spartanburg

[Nick_81]

On 7/15/2016 at 11:26 PM, uncpanther said:

Thanks!

I was wondering how early I need to get there to park in lot "A" next to the stadium and to get a good spot (at the player entrance/exit) for my son and I to get autographs. I'm sure it starts getting crowded early.

Was planning on going Monday August 1st.

Thanks again!

It's hardly ever the same, so it's really hard to tell.  I usually try to get there an hour early.  Sometimes there's hardly any people, and sometimes it's slammed, even on weekdays.  Same with autograph area.  The main thing is prioritize what you really want to do, since you're just going for a single day.  If you really want autographs, and you want a good spot, you pretty much have to get your spot when you get there, and stay put.  You can't really see much of the practice from there though.

If autographs aren't priority, but you would like to try to get some, you can always watch practice until there's about 15 - 20 mins left, then head to the autograph area.  Sometimes you get lucky and get a good spot.  Like I said, it's hit or miss no matter which day it is.  Hopefully, your day will be a lucky one.

[Panthers_Lover]

On 7/15/2016 at 11:26 PM, uncpanther said:

Thanks!

I was wondering how early I need to get there to park in lot "A" next to the stadium and to get a good spot (at the player entrance/exit) for my son and I to get autographs. I'm sure it starts getting crowded early.

Was planning on going Monday August 1st.

Thanks again!

Gates open 2 hours before practice starts. It is really difficult to tell when people will begin arriving to park. Your best bet could be riding one of the shuttle buses, which start 2 hours before practice as well. As Nick 81 points out, it's really difficult to tell what the crowds will be like on any given day. Weekdays likely will be less crowded than weekends, of course, especially the first weekend. We anticipate the heaviest crowds between July 28 and July 31. With the parking/traffic pattern changes, that is another wild card. 

Guess I'm not much help.

[prosec34]

New to the forum, but not the Panthers.

Last time I went to training camp, I went on the first Saturday. They were practicing in Wofford's stadium, and at the end of practice, they did full 11-on-11 scrimmaging with pads, tackling, etc. For you regulars, should I expect the same thing to happen if I go on the first Saturday this year?

I see on the schedule, it doesn't say Gibbs Stadium, but I don't think it did in 2014 either.

[Panthers_Lover]

1 minute ago, prosec34 said:

New to the forum, but not the Panthers.

Last time I went to training camp, I went on the first Saturday. They were practicing in Wofford's stadium, and at the end of practice, they did full 11-on-11 scrimmaging with pads, tackling, etc. For you regulars, should I expect the same thing to happen if I go on the first Saturday this year?

I see on the schedule, it doesn't say Gibbs Stadium, but I don't think it did in 2014 either.

It's unlikely this will happen this year. It could, but I doubt it.

[Panthers_Lover]

3 minutes ago, stbugs said:

OK, first day at training camp done. Got there really early (2 hours before), parking was ridiculously easy that early so we parked in the front row in the closest lot (A). We saw all the players come in and a few signed. Luke and Kony, not dressed, signed the most but Kuechly was mobbed so he never got back to us and we were in the green zone on Jeremy's map.

As Jeremy mentioned, look for the blue camera towers, we went over to the far field because two were pointed at it and outside of some drills, the practice pretty much happened there so we were sitting at the fence right behind that end zone with prime seats. We got to see a ton of QB/WR/DB work along with some off the team drills. I got a great video of a Cam to Brown TD in the back of the end zone. Honestly, not much to report on in terms of players other than Norwood and Bersin looking pretty crisp catching the ball. Oh, I think it was Lou Young #22 who made a few nice plays and a really nice INT in team drills, maybe Teddy Williams as well.

Went back to get autographs and OMG people herd over there like cattle and people literally camp out there the entire practice. I wanted to watch some of the practice so we went over about a half hour before the end of practice. We found a lady and son (really nice people) who we were chatting with at the start and they were still there. They let my youngest stand on their chair so he could reach between them. For the most part, it was nice and no one pushed until Cam came by and my son almost got pushed off the chair by some dick who told me he was getting pushed as well (no asshat, you weren't). I was way more polite than I could have been. That said, had 3 balls (one for son who couldn't come) and got Ealy on all 3 (before practice), Kuechly on 2, Tobias Palmer on 3 (really nice kid), TD on 1, Norwell on 1 and one more I can't remember (not one of the big guys). A lot of players didn't sign at all, no biggie, lots of people. Bradberry was very, very generous. He signed for a long time, most of anyone and unfortunately stopped before us, but my son yelled out to him and he threw his gloves to him. Luckily a mom picked one up and gave it to my son because she said he clearly was trying to throw them to him.

Two last notes. First, go to Ike's Korner Grill for burgers, not The Beacon. Damn good burgers. It's a small place, but not well known by camp goers. The service was great, really, really nice people and again food was fantastic and I like burgers. Second, be polite and people will sign. My son lost to Thomas Davis' son in their flag football championship. I told him as he was already past us and he came back, signed my son's ball and told him better luck next year.

All in all, really fun experience and hopefully round 2 tomorrow is as good. I think we're going all in on autographs so hopefully it goes well.

Ike's is fabulous for greasy (good) burgers and hand-cut, fresh-made fries! A hole in the wall, but a great one. Another good place is the Nu-Way downtown (on Kennedy Street). Great burgers and fries. They also are a bar, so they have beer etc.