If you’re going to a Panthers game from the Triangle, here’s how to leave the car at home
If you’re still planning to trek to Charlotte to see the Carolina Panthers this disappointing season, there’s an alternative to fighting traffic and hunting for a place to park.
Amtrak, the N.C. Department of Transportation and the local bus system are making it easier to get to Bank of America Stadium and back for three upcoming games.
With NCByTrain’s expanded schedule, there are now two “football trains” going to Charlotte on game days and two more coming home, but only for 1 p.m. Sunday kickoffs. That includes this weekend’s game against the Texans when the 0-6 Panthers seek their first win of the season.
While taking the train can make for a longer day, it does leave time for pre- and post-game activities in uptown Charlotte and opportunities to commiserate or celebrate with other fans, depending on the game’s outcome.
Early risers and those looking for an expanded pre-game party can catch Piedmont train 71, which leaves Raleigh Union Station at 6:30 a.m. and arrives in Charlotte at 9:28 a.m. Others may wish to wait for Piedmont train 73, which will leave Raleigh Union Station at a special football train time of 8:40 a.m. to arrive in Charlotte at noon.
The first return train, Piedmont 76, leaves Charlotte at 5:30 p.m., while Piedmont 78 is scheduled to depart at 7:45 p.m. and arrive in Raleigh at 10:52 p.m. (For times to and from intermediate cities, such as Burlington, Durham and Cary, go to www.ncbytrain.org/schedules/Pages/piedmont.aspx.)
Ticket prices vary by station. The most expensive is from Raleigh, where a roundtrip starts at $52.
NCDOT is building a new train station near the heart of uptown Charlotte. But for now, the Amtrak station is about 2 miles from the stadium.
Charlotte Area Transportation System or CATS buses will be at the station to take fans into the city center. After riders get their train ticket, they can download the CATS-Pass app and use the promo code FootballRide23 for a free day pass to ride the CATS system on game day. A limited number of physical free passes will be available at the train station; otherwise the bus is $2.20, exact change only.
The bus goes only as far as the Charlotte Transportation Center, a 20-minute walk from the stadium. To get closer, you can use the CATS day pass to ride the Lynx Blue Line train two stops south to Brooklyn Village Avenue, which is about a 10-minute walk from the stadium.
Or you might take a cab or rideshare from the Amtrak station.
In addition to Sunday’s game against the Texans, the football trains and CATS bus passes are available for the Nov. 19 game against the Dallas Cowboys and the Dec. 24 game with the Green Bay Packers.
The start times of two other home games on the Panthers schedule, against the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, remain undetermined.
For more information and to book a ticket, go to www.ncbytrain.org/.
