Going to my first home game vs. the Bengals

[tukafan21]

Followed the Panthers during the first season, but when they drafted Biakabutuka, my favorite college player of all time, I became a die-hard fan and have been ever since. Seen them play in person once, that was in Arizona in 2005, but I'll be heading down to Carolina for the Bengals game this season and I can't wait.

Would love some help from you guys though as I still need to book my hotel.

I'm flying in Saturday afternoon, landing at 3, then have the rest of that day/night to see the area, and then I don't have a flight back home until 10 on Sunday night, so with the early game I'll have about 4 hours to kill before needing to go back to the airport.

Since it will be the last week of September, I imagine the weather will be great there, so walking around is not a problem at all and I really prefer it. I'd love to stay at a hotel within walking distance of the stadium and near some good restaraunts/bars/shopping areas.

It's just one night, so I'm not looking to spend an arm and a leg and don't need something really fancy because it's just me, looking to spend $100 or less if possible, willing to spend more if needed though. But it's also got to be a nice enough place where they'll be willing to hold my bag, I'll just have a backpack or something, when I go to the game since I'll have to check out before leaving for it.

So if anyone has any suggestions of where to stay, some good places to get dinner/drinks, like a burger or pizza, nothing fancy, and some nice places to just hang out and maybe do some shopping during the day/night would be great.

Thanks.

[tukafan21]

Anyone?

Looking to book my hotel in the next few days, anyone got some ideas for me?

[tjamtjam]

I'm going to the 49ers game (which will be the first Panthers game I see in person!) with my girlfriend and would appreciate same kind of information. We'll be landing on Saturday and leaving on Monday so we'll have some time to spend. There is plenty of information in wikitravel but I don't know how dated the information is there. Also, my girlfriend is a vegetarian. Are the restaurants generally vegetarian-friendly there?

[LowDownBrown]

Yes! There are many great vegetarian restaurants in the Charlotte area. However, many of these restaurants can be very snobby and stuck up. Many of them base who gets seated purely upon physical appearance. If you posted pics of your girlfriend then maybe we could point you in the right direction.

[CatMan72]

Followed the Panthers during the first season, but when they drafted Biakabutuka, my favorite college player of all time, I became a die-hard fan and have been ever since. Seen them play in person once, that was in Arizona in 2005, but I'll be heading down to Carolina for the Bengals game this season and I can't wait.

Would love some help from you guys though as I still need to book my hotel.

I'm flying in Saturday afternoon, landing at 3, then have the rest of that day/night to see the area, and then I don't have a flight back home until 10 on Sunday night, so with the early game I'll have about 4 hours to kill before needing to go back to the airport.

Since it will be the last week of September, I imagine the weather will be great there, so walking around is not a problem at all and I really prefer it. I'd love to stay at a hotel within walking distance of the stadium and near some good restaraunts/bars/shopping areas.

It's just one night, so I'm not looking to spend an arm and a leg and don't need something really fancy because it's just me, looking to spend $100 or less if possible, willing to spend more if needed though. But it's also got to be a nice enough place where they'll be willing to hold my bag, I'll just have a backpack or something, when I go to the game since I'll have to check out before leaving for it.

So if anyone has any suggestions of where to stay, some good places to get dinner/drinks, like a burger or pizza, nothing fancy, and some nice places to just hang out and maybe do some shopping during the day/night would be great.

Thanks.

I'm a local so I don't know much about the hotels in uptown, but I'd say as long as you stay in uptown you really can't go wrong. I think there's nice looking Holiday Inn virtually next to the Panthers stadium. There is also a Marriott right at the main intersection in uptown Charlotte with a Champs sports bar on the ground floor. As far as dining/shopping/etc I would recommend you just explore uptown on foot, lots of restaurants including several national chains.

Hope that helps.

[CatMan72]

I'm going to the 49ers game (which will be the first Panthers game I see in person!) with my girlfriend and would appreciate same kind of information. We'll be landing on Saturday and leaving on Monday so we'll have some time to spend. There is plenty of information in wikitravel but I don't know how dated the information is there. Also, my girlfriend is a vegetarian. Are the restaurants generally vegetarian-friendly there?

I'd say restaurants here for the most part will do their best to try and accommodate you. I have a food allergy and I have yet to have a bad experience here.

[2jakefansinva]

check the hotels in Charlotte center city. there are quite a few...just depends on your pocketbook, your needs and wants. visit the huddle tailgate before the game and find what others are doing after the game. I know there is a sports bar just across from the tailgate call picassio's (sp) and if that's not to your liking .......walk down Tryon st. If I were you I would.....attend the tailgate, go to the game, return to tailgate, get ideas of were to go, head back to hotel and retrive baggage, go to bar to watch late games, hail cab at 8 o'clock to airport and watch sundaynite football untill plane leaves. great weekend.

[freebird4181]

residence inn i very close and has big rooms. not bad on price. double tree is cheaper but a couple blocks away. we've stayed at both these and the weston and i would rank them.

1-residence inn

2-double tree

3-weston, smaller rooms at a higher price. about as far away as double tree

[tukafan21]

So would it be safe to say if I stayed somewhere in uptown I'll be good for walking to the stadium on Sunday and find plenty of places to eat/drink/shop during the other time that I'm there?

What is this Huddle tailgate you speak of? I'd love to find a place that would welcome me in for a drink or two before the game since I won't know anyone else there. I plan on getting to the stadium area 2-3 hours before the game to check it all out and take it all in.

[DudeNamedJeremy]

Yes! There are many great vegetarian restaurants in the Charlotte area. However, many of these restaurants can be very snobby and stuck up. Many of them base who gets seated purely upon physical appearance. If you posted pics of your girlfriend then maybe we could point you in the right direction.

creepiest post of the year

[coxc63]

Id recommend that u eat at Morgan's restaurant, I drove to Charlotte for the taste of the panthers and a tattoo and ate at cheeze mo's. The atmosphere is great and the food is good also. Plus there's a poo load of flat screens around the restaurant so would be a great place to watch late games.

[Nu Guns]

I'm going to the 49ers game (which will be the first Panthers game I see in person!) with my girlfriend and would appreciate same kind of information. We'll be landing on Saturday and leaving on Monday so we'll have some time to spend. There is plenty of information in wikitravel but I don't know how dated the information is there. Also, my girlfriend is a vegetarian. Are the restaurants generally vegetarian-friendly there?

"vegetarian-friendly " WTF??

Is there such a thing on football Sundays?

Cant tail gate with veggies...that Sunday would a great time to switch back to the meat !

[Mayor Qumiby]

Id recommend that u eat at Morgan's restaurant, I drove to Charlotte for the taste of the panthers and a tattoo and ate at cheeze mo's. The atmosphere is great and the food is good also. Plus there's a poo load of flat screens around the restaurant so would be a great place to watch late games.

That wouldn't be a bad idea, however that place closed earlier this year.

[tukafan21]

How about a good place to go watch the afternoon games, a good burger, and a good selection of beer on tap?