Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A division game against Tampa Bay on a Sunday afternoon in late October. NFC South games decide the Panthers’ season more than any others, and the Buccaneers have won the division most recent years, so this one carries weight regardless of records. The teams meet again in Tampa on Monday Night Football on Nov. 30.

Panthers home games take over Uptown for the afternoon. The lots along Mint Street and Morehead fill with tailgates hours ahead, the bars on South Tryon are standing room, and the Blue Line runs packed both directions. If you have never been, the pregame walk down Mint Street with the stadium at the end of it is the best part of the experience.

What to expect

• NFC South rivalry game
• 1 p.m. kickoff, the classic Sunday afternoon slot
• First of two meetings with Tampa Bay this season

Schedule

• Morning Tailgate lots open and fill
• Kickoff See time above
• Postgame Uptown bars and the Blue Line are the fastest exits

Plan your visit

Tickets are on the Panthers’ site and Ticketmaster. Resale prices usually drop the week of the game for non division opponents.

Good to know

• The stadium is two blocks from the Blue Line. Stonewall and Carson stations are the closest stops, and the train is the fastest way out after the final whistle.
• Uptown decks fill an hour or more before kickoff. If you drive, park south of the stadium along South Tryon or in South End and walk in.
• Clear bag policy is enforced at every gate. Small clutches are fine; backpacks are not.
• Lots around the stadium open well before game time, and the tailgate scene along Mint Street and in the Morehead lots is worth arriving early for.