Fans provide a realistic feel to practice
Over 45,000 fans poured into Bank of America Stadium Saturday night, braving an early rain that cleared into a pleasant evening for a first glimpse of the 2025 Carolina Panthers. They arrived early, settling into their seats a good three hours before “kickoff” and staying well past the final whistle, enjoying a fireworks and laser show, and begging for Robert Hunt‘s gloves, or a signature from Legette.
“That was a lot of fun right there, just great energy,” Canales said. “So much love for the fans that came out. Lots of great energy, the guys needed it; we’re deep in the camp, so, all the help we can get to just kind of create those types of practices.
“The guys don’t understand the impact they can have on people just by spending a little bit of time, by going to see someone, taking a picture with somebody. You know, connecting with our fan base because they mean a lot to this town so I love moments like that we’re really happy to do that.”
Fan Fest returned to Charlotte after a year on the road in the Panthers original home stadium in Clemson. With training camp practices closed this year due to construction, Fan Fest was an opportunity to see what the Panthers have been working on this offseason. It was also an opportunity for the players to feel that immediate fan response and feedback to plays.
“I think it’s important to have the lights on, the crowd, the energy, kind of just that next step in the atmosphere of being closer to a real game,” Thielen said. “I think it’s good for us all to look ourselves in the face and say we need to get a little bit better at, you know, this, that or the other. So, great evaluation for us as individuals and I’m sure for the team, and excited to kind of go back to work.”
And for rookies, this was also the first chance to suit up in a full uniform and run onto the field with fans in the stands.
“I feel like (the energy is) really when you first walk out and you see all the fans and stuff like that,” said rookie receiver Jimmy Horn Jr.
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