Carolina Panthers Fans, Rejoice! Train Service Makes Game Day a Breeze
Hey there, sports fans! If you’re flying the Panther flag and heading to a Carolina Panthers game this season, we’ve got some exciting news for you. This year, thanks to Amtrak and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, you can leave the car at home and ditch the parking hassle by taking the train straight to the game.
Easy Travel with New Train Schedules
This season, there will be a special adjustment to the Sunday morning train schedule on days when the Panthers are slated to play at 1 p.m. This means that two Piedmont trains will be arriving in Charlotte by noon, just in time for you to head to your seats and catch the kickoff at the Bank of America Stadium.
The first of these special “football trains” kicks off service this Sunday, September 15, when the Panthers take on the Los Angeles Chargers. Mark your calendars for more games, including match-ups against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 29, the New Orleans Saints on November 3, the Kansas City Chiefs on November 24, the Dallas Cowboys on December 15, and the Arizona Cardinals on December 22. How cool is that?
Morning Trains to the Game
So how do you catch one of these trains? You’ve got two options in the morning:
- Piedmont train 71 leaves Raleigh Union Station at 6:30 a.m. and makes stops in Cary, Durham, Greensboro, and Kannapolis before rolling into Charlotte at 9:28 a.m.
- Piedmont train 73 departs Raleigh at 8:40 a.m. with stops in Cary, Durham, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury, and Kannapolis, arriving in Charlotte right at noon.
Train 73 typically heads out at 10 a.m., but for game days, they’re making an adjustment to get you to the game on time. Cheers to that!
Evening Trains After the Game
And what about getting back home after the game? No worries, as there are two evening train options:
- Piedmont train 76 departs Charlotte at 5:30 p.m. and makes stops in Kannapolis, Greensboro, Durham, and Cary, arriving back in Raleigh at 8:29 p.m.
- Piedmont train 78 leaves Charlotte at 7:45 p.m., stopping in Salisbury, High Point, Greensboro, Burlington, Durham, and Cary before it arrives in Raleigh at 10:52 p.m.
Ticket Pricing and Transportation Tips
Now let’s talk about ticket prices, which vary based on how far you’re traveling. Tickets from Raleigh, for instance, start at $54 for a round-trip. So keep that in mind as you plan your game day.
In the works is a new train station under development near the heart of uptown Charlotte, which should make accessing the stadium even easier in the future. However, the current Amtrak station is about 2 miles away from Bank of America Stadium. This means you’ll need to either grab a cab, use a rideshare service, or take a short walk across four lanes of North Tryon Street. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could also hop onto a CATS bus, but remember, there are no crosswalks near the station, so be cautious!
Get Ready for Game Day!
So there you have it, folks! For your next Carolina Panthers game in Charlotte, why not keep it simple and jump on the train? You’ll avoid the stress of traffic and parking while enjoying a smooth ride to the stadium.
For every football fan out there, this is a great opportunity to cheer for our Panthers without the usual headaches of game day travel. Don’t forget to check out more details and schedules on the official train website before heading out.
Go Panthers!
