Panther fans: It’ll be (much) harder to find parking than usual

Heads-up, Panthers fans: On Sunday, cheerleading will have a much greater impact on the fan experience than it normally does.

Not inside of Bank of America Stadium, though. Outside, three blocks up Stonewall Street, where there’s a major cheerleading and dance competition being held Sunday (and Saturday, too) at the Charlotte Convention Center.

So, take tens of thousands of football fans, who – on any given Panther game day – create lots of competition for parking spaces and public transportation. Then introduce to the mix the 8,000 to 10,000 people who are expected to attend the Spirit of Hope event.

Put them all together, and Sunday could very well be a commuting nightmare for both Panthers’ fans and cheer families.

In a memorandum earlier this week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police chief Kerr Puttney said: “My staff has determined that this event meets the criteria of an Extraordinary Event ... defined as a large scale event of national or international significance and/or an event expected to attract a significant number of people to a certain portion of the city.”

The memo does not, however, make note of the cheerleading competition. Yup, in addition to seeing an increased number of public safety officers in the vicinity of the stadium, you also may run into an increased number of girls sporting ponytails and heavy eye makeup.

How to plan, if you’re coming into the city on Sunday for one of these events?

The most stress-free option might be the light rail via the Lynx Blue Line, although it makes more sense for people traveling from the south side of town. Oh, and in case there was any doubt: A CATS spokewoman said Wednesday that all stations will be open on Sunday. (Construction work at certain stations has limited or entirely closed off service to uptown in recent months, but never on a game day.) Just be aware that station parking lots and trains will likely be much more crowded than usual.

We’ve also heard lots of people heralding Uber as a practical solution. But please go that route with caution. The transportation service’s surge pricing will almost certainly be a factor on Sunday, and there are plenty of horror stories about Uber passengers being caught unawares after being socked with sky-high invoices.

Beyond that, our best advice is simple: Figure out when you would leave for your event under ideal circumstances. Then add 30 minutes. Then rub your chin slowly and add another 30 minutes, just to be safe. Then make sure you have a few twenties in your wallet, so you’re ready for anything – for instance, lucking into the last parking space at a $40+ lot.

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Panther fans: It’ll be (much) harder to find parking than usual."