A packed Gibbs Stadium crowd welcomed the 2015 National Football Conference champions Carolina Panthers back to camp Thursday night at Wofford College.
Quarterback Cam Newton, linebacker Luke Kuechly, running back Jonathan Stewart received huge roars from the Panthers fans. Perhaps the loudest was for Kelvin Benjamin, a wide receiver making his return to the Panthers after tearing his ACL a year ago in camp in Spartanburg.
Estimated crowd attendance was 20,000. That compares to last year’s total announced attendance of 77,000. More than 100,000 are expected this year.
A pre-practice Panthers Party, complete with Spartanburg Mayor Junie White banging the Keep Pounding drum. Sir Purr and the Panthers cheerleaders warmed up the crowd before the team took the field.