Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte FC

Bank of America Stadium

See 0 reviews

Submit a review

Capacity: 74,867
Club Nickname: The Crown
Year Opened: 1996
Pitch Size: 121 x 80 metres
Address: 800 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
Phone: +1 704-358-7000
Shirt Sponsors: Ally Financial
Undersoil Heating: No
Last Update: October 7, 2024

As with many grounds in the United States, Bank of America Stadium is a multi-purpose arena, meaning that it regularly hosts NFL and MLS matches.

First and foremost, it is the home of American football outfit Charlotte Panthers, and their colours are most often seen around the facility. However, since 2021, the venue has also been the home of MLS  side Charlotte FC.

For that reason, many of its features are geared toward NFL rather than European football. For example, the arches that connect the various column supports around the ground have been designed to resemble the shape of half a football—an American football.

In terms of the design itself, the stadium features a bowl-like layout in the stands, something that has become increasingly common in Europe. At its core, the ground is a two-tiered facility, boasting a lower and upper section for supporters to use. But, like many stadiums all over the world, it also features a club-level tier sandwiched between the two aforementioned sections.

In essence, the Bank of America Stadium is a sleek, modern facility that, at least on the surface, resembles many of its European counterparts at a core design level.

With the ground selected as one of the 12 2025 Club World Cup stadiums, the venue is likely to soon see a huge influx of away fans, many of whom will be visitors from overseas.

Thankfully, the facility is a terrific venue, and the vast majority of travelling supporters should find their experience pleasant.

The stadium’s modern design means that entry and exit to and from the venue should be fairly seamless, and away fans are generally more welcome in American stadiums than they are in European stadiums.

For those wishing to make the most of their trip to Charlotte, it is also worth noting that there are several mountains in the local area that provide excellent views for hiking enthusiasts. One of the best options is Crowders Mountain, a mere 50-minute drive from the arena.

Drinking before the big game is a huge aspect of European football, and while that same culture isn’t quite as important in the States, it is still very prevalent and there are plenty of options located near the ground.

Unlike in Europe, away fans are not usually segregated from home supporters inside the ground in America for domestic competitions, and, as such, every pub in the local area, except those which are club-specific, welcomes away fans.

Our top suggestions are:

Food at the Bank of America is phenomenal. In Europe, we have become accustomed to relatively low-quality grub at the vast majority of grounds, but the home of Charlotte FC  serves some truly fantastic dishes.

Here are a few examples of the type of food you can expect to be on offer during your visit to the stadium:

While the food is fantastic, it is worth noting that many of the offerings can be pretty pricey, so be prepared if you plan on eating at the venue.

The Bank of America Stadium has three massive entrance gates, each of which is located in the North, East and South sections of the ground respectively.

As alluded to, there is no specific entrance for away fans as they are not segregated in most cases, however, all fans should head towards the gate detailed on their respective ticket information.

Once at the turnstiles, all supporters who require a bag check should join the appropriate queue, with all other fans entering the gate via the middle lane.

Bank of America Stadium entrance
Photo by Imago Images

Bank of America Stadium layout

Bank of America Stadium layout
Photo by Charlotte Panthers

Given America’s truly massive size, many away supporters will likely drive to the stadium, which is far more viable in the States than it is in the United Kingdom, for example.

The vast majority of fans are either going to travel to the ground from the North or South directions, and you will want to exit your respective interstate.

From the North

If using the I-85, you will want to look for signs pointing towards the exit at either Look for signs to exit at either Sugar Creek Road, Graham Street, Statesville Avenue or I-77 South.

If you are instead using the I-77, you will want to exit the interstate at either Brookshire Freeway (I-277 East), Fifth Street, Trade Street, Morehead Street or John Belk Freeway (I-277).

From the South

Again, if you are travelling using the I-85, then you will want to exit at either Billy Graham Parkway, Freedom Drive, Brookshire Freeway (I-277 East) or I-77 South.

Or, follow signs for exits at either John Belk Freeway (I-277) or Trade Street if you are using the I-77.

In any case, once you have exited your respective interstate, follow the signposts for the Bank of America Stadium and then for your chosen parking facility once you are closer to your destination.

Car Parking

There are over 30,000 parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the stadium, as per the Carolina Panther’s official website, so finding somewhere to park should be fairly easy.

The Mint Street Parking Facility is highly recommended, located on the corner between Mint Street and Graham Street, and is situated directly opposite the North Gate entrance to the ground.

If you are instead planning on travelling to the stadium using public transport, then you will want to make use of the Amtrak railway service and take the train to Charlotte Amtrak Station.

From here, the ground is a 50-minute walk away so for supporters that enjoy a bit of exercise, walking is certainly an option at this point.

However, don’t panic as it is also possible to get another train from Charlotte Amtrak Station to Chruch Street and Trade Street, at which point you will be just an 8-minute walk from the Bank of America Stadium.

For travelling supporters wishing to make their stay in Charlotte an overnight one, there are plenty of options in the local area so finding a place to sleep shouldn’t be an issue.

Our top three suggestions of hotels in the local area with good reviews are:

As is always the case, remember to book as much in advance as possible to ensure availability is not an issue at your chosen hotel.

Originally built in 1996, the Bank of America Stadium was initially named the Ericsson Stadium until 2004, at which point Bank of America leased the ground’s naming rights in a 25-year deal reported to be worth around $140 million.

For much of its life, the facility was solely an American football stadium that predominantly hosted home matches for the Carolina Panthers. As a result, the majority of the ground’s legacy comes from the NFL.

However, in 2022, the site also became the home of Charlotte FC – an MLS outfit for which it operates at a capacity of just 38,000.

The stadium has hosted plenty of MLS fixtures recently and is no stranger to games involving overseas sides. In addition to international friendlies, the pitch at the Bank of America Stadium has also welcomed many of Europe’s elite players, most recently when Real Madrid battled it out against Chelsea in a friendly on August 6, 2024.

 

In terms of facilities for disabled fans, the Bank of America Stadium is incredibly advanced and has taken several measures to ensure that the matchday experience at the ground is as comfortable as it can be for such supporters.

Some of the disabled facilities at the venue include:

  • Designated wheelchair seating areas
  • Accessible toilets
  • Complimentary wheelchair escorts (first-come, first-serve)
  • Designated drop-off zones
  • Wheelchair rental service
  • Closed-captioning for those with hearing impairments
  • Access for approved service animals

There is also a limited number of disabled parking spaces available for supporters with he correct permits at the ground.

For this section, we will exclusively look at attendances for Charlotte FC home matches, rather than Carolina Panthers games in the NFL.

Record attendance

Charlotte FC’s record attendance at the Bank of America Stadium came in their very first game at the ground, when an MLS record-breaking crowd of 74,479 watched the Crown battle it out with LA Galaxy on March 5, 2022.

Average attendance

  • 2022 – 35,260
  • 2023 – 36,337
  • 2024 – 36,058

Charlotte City Council have recently approved an $800 million project that will huge renovations at the ground, including:

  • Improved accessibility for all disabled fans
  • Improved illuminated wayfinding for better security
  • New state-of-the-art technology throughout the stadium, including sound and light systems
  • Renovations to the exterior
  • A south lawn pavilion

Although the above project is not expected to be completed until 2029, once finished, these renovations will modernize an already incredibly advance venue even further.

Ground Layout

Ground Layout of Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte FC

Reviews