NFC Title Game Will Be Played In Slushy Bank Of America Stadium

The high temperature today in Charlotte will "peak at a brisk 47 degrees, with temperatures possibly dipping into the 30s" by the kickoff of the Cardinals-Panthers NFC Championship Game. Panthers Exec Dir of Stadium Operations Scott Paul said of the Bank of America Stadium field, "We've had to remove snow from the tarp twice" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/24). NFL Network’s Tiffany Blackmon said, “The tarp is off the field, and crews here pretty much worked round the clock these last few days to keep the snow and the ice off of the tarp in order to keep the field as dry as they could. ... There will be plenty of time for this field to air out." She added, "It's pretty amazing what this field looks like considering what it's been through” (“NFL GameDay Morning,” NFL Network, 1/24).

Meanwhile, about 4,000 Cardinals fans "lined Phoenix Sky Harbor tarmac" yesterday as the team departed for Charlotte. U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) "spoke of the team's rising influence" (AZCENTRAL.com, 1/23).