Crazy Stadium Experience on Sunday

[SixMileDrive]

My fiancee and I flew into Charlotte from Minneapolis this weekend to visit friends and were pretty excited that Carolina was playing a home game while we were in town. We're both NC natives and huge Panthers fans who have been to BOA on numerous occasions. We ended up finding some reasonably priced tickets in section 205 and were excited to see our first live game in two years.

After the first drive of the game, we left our seats to get drinks and an older man next to us grumpily asked if we were going to be getting up "this much" the entire game. We thought that was a bit weird, but kind of ignored it. A few minutes later (maybe five minutes into the game), we were asked to sit down by some people a row back and several seats over. The game had barely started and half the crowd in the stadium was standing at this point. There were no people in the seats immediately behind us, we'd traveled over 1,000 miles to see the game and weren't too excited about sitting down in general, but especially not onto scorching hot seats in 90+ degree heat, so we basically said no. That didn't go over very well and after a short spat, an older lady told me that they were PSL owners and could have us removed from the game.

We ended up sitting for a bit, but weren't comfortable and it was really ruining our experience so we resumed standing a little while later. Once again we were asked to sit. I had a pretty good idea where this as going to go, so I was pro-active and spoke to the ushers to confirm that we were okay in standing for a decent portion of the game and also to head off any issues from the wine and cheese group that wanted us gone. The ushers sort of laughed at us and told us were were fine, that of course we could stand as we were at a football game and that no one could have us removed.

Shortly after halftime we were asked to sit by someone else (maybe four rows back?) before they started to yell at us and threatened to have us kicked out of the stadium. I went down to the ushers again and asked to be moved. They said they couldn't do anything, but security heard us talking and told me they they had received several complaints and found a empty spot at the handicapped rail and told me we could move there, but if there were "any more issues" that we would be removed from the stadium. From his tone, I have zero doubt in my mind that we would have been kicked out for standing if I hadn't been proactive about dealing with the situation. 

I went back up to our seats to grab my fiancee and a group of about 15 people started shooting us the bird and yelling at us as we walked away. I found out that my 120lb fiancee had apparently been being harassed by a crowd of people the entire time I was gone. I still can't believe the reaction we were getting. We've gone to tons of games before and never had issues like this. We weren't going out of our way to bother anyone and were keeping pretty much to ourselves.

After we moved, we had numerous Panthers fans drop by from the section to say words of support. A couple of Vikings fans wanted to get videos with "the guy who was boo-ed out his seats by his own fans for standing". This whole ordeal has been especially painful considering I'm going to have to face all the Vikings fans at work tomorrow here in MN who are going to be asking me about how the game went. I'd heard people tell stories similar to this, but I didn't believe that it could be so bad. I'm still pretty shocked about what happened.

[UnluckyCharms]

Club level is usually unpleasant for me (20 years old and usually at games with other college students) because we spend the entire game standing and screaming. Certainly the 200s can be great and I'm sure some sections are top notch but I find that the best seats are either upper level or 100s when I can afford it. People are drunk and wild in the uppers and the 100s are filled with people who splurged and just want to enjoy the game. Club level seats have too many people who seem to be against showing emotion at a football game.

[KCat]

I sit in 205.  What row were you sitting in?  

[motocross_cat]

I sit in the upper level, 545.  I really only stand for the first part of the game, big situations on offense and 3rd or 4th down defense.  I always get told to sit. ......then i stand anyways.

Sometimes i feel bad because its older people who have been going to the games since 96 but i cant just sit....its football.

[DeeJay]

Tell panthers PR there ushers are dogshit 

[Fox007]

lol pussy fans wow

[LinvilleGorge]

Sucks you had such a shitty experience. I've had nothing but positive experiences in the games I've seen at BOA... and Mile High for that matter. 

[SixMileDrive]

25 minutes ago, UnluckyCharms said:

Club level is usually unpleasant for me (20 years old and usually at games with other college students) because we spend the entire game standing and screaming. Certainly the 200s can be great and I'm sure some sections are top notch but I find that the best seats are either upper level or 100s when I can afford it. People are drunk and wild in the uppers and the 100s are filled with people who splurged and just want to enjoy the game. Club level seats have too many people who seem to be against showing emotion at a football game.

I hear you. We weren't drinking heavily or screaming constantly. I'm a 32 y/o professional and don't party like I did when I was younger. It was just me and my fiancee wanting to stand and enjoy a game we flew over 1000 miles to see. Next time we come we'll either do lowers or the bottom end of the uppers. I've been in club a few times before and never had issues, but I certainly won't risk it again.

I think the thing that bothered us the most was the "we're PSL owners and can have you removed" comments. In addition to that, we aren't really the biggest fans of the culture here and MN and were extremely excited to be home around the welcoming people in the south. The experience we had was unexpected, to say the least.

[SixMileDrive]

32 minutes ago, KCat said:

I sit in 205.  What row were you sitting in?  

I'd don't want to go into too much detail here on the off chance the people sitting near us yesterday are huddlers. I would rather not have to deal with that group again.

[the butch]

I was dropping F-bombs left and right surrounded by families.  Nary a side-eye was glanced.

[bestsportnascar]

Hell, I stand and scream the whole time we are on defense. Offense, it depends on the situation if I stand. Be loud and proud at the games.

I sat in the 300's once, got a single ticket. The late arrivers I could tell hated my screaming, but the other people beside me joined right in.

I've never had anyone tell me to sit. If there is a kid behind me, I do sit more.

Someone needs to tell those assholes behind you to be loud. The noise level at that game was very disappointing. I wish I was able to go. Obviously, You are just one voice, but if you are doing everything you can to maintain our home field advantage, you can be proud of yourself, even if the people around you are wine and cheese.

Sent from my VS987 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[Jimmy]

I sat in the 200 level during the playoff game two years ago against Arizona, and if anyone who remembers that game will tell you, no one sat the entire game...except for 3 people directly behind me who yelled, screamed, and cussed bc we wouldn't sit. It was miserable at times. 

[Riverboat Ron]

But how can they watch the game eating their Havarti when you selfishly stand? Hitler used to stand at football games...

[Donald LaFell]

1 hour ago, UnluckyCharms said:

Club level is usually unpleasant for me (20 years old and usually at games with other college students) because we spend the entire game standing and screaming. Certainly the 200s can be great and I'm sure some sections are top notch but I find that the best seats are either upper level or 100s when I can afford it. People are drunk and wild in the uppers and the 100s are filled with people who splurged and just want to enjoy the game. Club level seats have too many people who seem to be against showing emotion at a football game.

The NFCCG was amazing in the lowers but in many cases I do agree.