CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Coming off of a two-win season, Panthers fans will pay more for season and individual tickets this year.
Panthers officials say the team is following a league-wide trend of increasing ticket prices.
Some fans say they don’t mind paying more but they want to see the team win games.
“The price difference from last year to this year was about $326, which is about $150 per ticket for me,” said Rashad Beard, season ticket holder and Panther Nation Podcast founder. “So, if you look at it on a per game basis, it’s not a terrible price increase.”
This year on average, team officials say ticket prices will increase on average about 4 percent. The lower levels of Bank of America Stadium will see an average of a 7 percent increase while 90 percent of the upper level prices will remain flat.
The Panthers finished the 2023-24 season with the worst record in the league – and won’t have a first-round pick int he upcoming NFL Draft. In a statement, a team spokesperson says “Officials look at a variety of factors to determine package price in any given year.”
Experts say the new coaching staff led by Dave Canales could generate some excitement.
“Unfortunately, the Panthers didn’t do so well last year. So, maybe it’s not the quality team that’s gonna make a big difference this year,” Craig Depken, UNC Charlotte professor of economics, said. “But they do have some exciting players and new coach and a new coaching staff that could actually draw people in relative than what was happening last year. Also, when it comes to the aspects of the team could be particular players. So having a top draft pick or having All Pros or Pro Bowlers or on the team could also drive drop people to the events.”
With more people penny pinching, fans might have to make tough choices, but economists say there will still be a demand.
“In these times of uncertainty, it is very natural for people have to pull back and spend less on their leisure activities,” Depken said. “But there is going to be some pushback on that right by certain people that say I’ll go to a Panthers game just to have a good time, maybe I can’t go to four or five, but I’ll just go to one.”
Fans say they don’t mind paying if the team is winning.
“You go into the season with high hopes, saying, ‘Alright, we’re gonna be better this year,’” Beard said. “So I think the pill will be easier to swallow, if we’re going to be better, and the expectation that we is that we are going to get better.”
Panthers fans who renew season tickets and permanent seat licenses by April 1 will be entered into a drawing to win a trip for two to the NFL Draft in Detroit.