Work already has begun to remove the 900 seats, which the bunker suites will replaceCHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL
The cost of construction for 14 new bunker suites at the NFL Panthers' Bank of America Stadium is estimated between $15-20M, and the team is "paying for the addition without taxpayer help" in the "first of several off-season stadium projects scheduled" for this year, according to a source cited by Erik Spanberg of CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL. The 14 suites that are replacing 900 existing seats will have a "minimum capacity of 12 people." Prices have "not been set." Charlotte's MLS team begins play in '21, but buyers of the bunker suites will "not receive MLS tickets as part of their purchase." The actual seats "will be in the open but connected to climate-controlled gathering areas, food and drink and special access." Adding bunker suites "will force the team to relocate 900 fans from the end-zone." Panthers VP/Ticket Sales & Service Joe LaBue said that the total "equates to 380 season-ticket accounts." Panthers ticket reps "began contacting those account owners Thursday with offer to relocate them elsewhere in the lower level -- though with higher per-game ticket prices -- or reimburse them if those fans opt against moving to a different section" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/24). LaBue said that the design of the area is "modeled after event-level suites" at MSG and Wrigley Field. LaBue added that the suite renovations "should be completed by the start of the Panthers season, but construction will be ongoing during events in the meantime" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/25).
