Editing Carolina Panthers (section)

==Culture==
The Panthers are supported in both North Carolina and South Carolina; [[Governor of South Carolina|South Carolina Governor]] [[Nikki Haley]] declared July 30, 2012, "Carolina Panthers Day" in her state, saying that "when it comes to professional teams, the Carolina Panthers are the team that South Carolina calls their own".<ref name="Governor proclaims Carolina Panthers Day in S.C." /> During the 2015 NFC Championship and Super Bowl, the [[hashtag]] #OneCarolina was used by college and professional sports teams from North Carolina and South Carolina to show unified support for the Panthers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/look-panthers-onecarolina-hashtag-has-taken-over-social-media/ |title=LOOK: Panthers' #OneCarolina hashtag has taken over social media |work=CBS Sports |author=Breech, John |date=January 24, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013082016/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/look-panthers-onecarolina-hashtag-has-taken-over-social-media/ |archive-date=October 13, 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' graded the Panthers as having the 10th highest "NFL Fan Value Experience" in 2007, attributing much of the fan atmosphere to the team's newness when compared to the established [[basketball]] fanbase. They also observed that the stadium has scattered parking lots, each of which has a different [[Tailgate party|tailgating]] style. Some have [[fried chicken]], [[pork]], or [[Barbecue in the United States#Carolinas|Carolina-style barbecue]], while others have live bands and televisions. Pickup football games in the parking lots are common.<ref name="NFL Fan Value Experience">{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/10/29/fvi.panthers/|title=NFL Fan Value Experience|date=November 7, 2007|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=January 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111062415/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/10/29/fvi.panthers/|archive-date=November 11, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Carolina Panthers have a home stadium capacity of just under 75,000,<ref>[https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/biggest-nfl-stadiums 10 Biggest NFL Stadiums]. ''foxsports.com''. Retrieved September 27, 2024.</ref> with home attendance ranking in the NFL's top ten since 2006.<ref name="NFL Attendance – 2012">{{cite web|title=NFL Attendance −2012|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/attendance/_/year/2012|work=ESPN.com|access-date=September 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911115050/http://espn.go.com/nfl/attendance/_/year/2012|archive-date=September 11, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/attendance/_/year/2015|title=2015 NFL Football Attendance – National Football League – ESPN|website=[[ESPN.com]]|access-date=May 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513022837/http://espn.go.com/nfl/attendance/_/year/2015|archive-date=May 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Mascot, cheerleaders, and drumline===
[[File:Sir Purr.jpg|alt= An anthropomorphic black cat, wearing a loose football jersey, is standing in front of several tents and is handing an object to another person.|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Panthers mascot [[Sir Purr]], wearing a white jersey]]
[[Sir Purr]], an [[anthropomorphic]] [[black panther]] who wears a jersey numbered '00', has been the Panthers' mascot since their first season. During games, Sir Purr provides sideline entertainment through skits and "silly antics".<ref name="Mascot">{{cite web|title=Sir Purr|url=https://www.panthers.com/sir-purr/|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=Panthers.com|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101020801/https://www.panthers.com/sir-purr/|url-status=live}}</ref> The mascot participates in a number of community events year-round, including a monthly visit to the patients at [[Levine Children's Hospital]]. Sir Purr also hosts the annual Mascot Bowl, an event which pits pro and college mascots against each other during halftime at a selected Panthers home game.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sir Purr – Outreach|url=https://www.panthers.com/sir-purr/outreach|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=Panthers.com|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925200825/https://www.panthers.com/sir-purr/outreach|url-status=live}}</ref>

The team's [[cheerleader]]s are the Carolina Topcats who lead cheers and entertain fans at home games. The TopCats participate in both corporate and charity events.<ref name="Cheerleaders">{{cite web|title=TopCats Cheerleaders|url=https://www.panthers.com/cheerleaders/|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=Panthers.com|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126030708/https://www.panthers.com/cheerleaders/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2022, the Carolina Topcats became the first NFL cheerleading team to have a transgender member, [[Justine Lindsay]].<ref name="z213">{{cite magazine | last=Factora | first=James | title=Carolina Panthers' Justine Lindsay Is the First Openly Trans NFL Cheerleader | magazine=[[Them (website)|Them magazine]] | date=June 6, 2022 | url=https://www.them.us/story/the-first-trans-cheerleader-in-nfl-history-joined-the-carolina-panthers | access-date=July 31, 2024 }}</ref> The team's [[drumline]] is PurrCussion, an ensemble of snare, tenor, and bass drummers as well as cymbal players. PurrCussion performs for fans outside the stadium and introduces players prior to home games; it consists of drummers from across the Carolinas.<ref name="Drumline">{{cite web|title=Purrcussion|url=https://www.panthers.com/drumline/|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=Panthers.com|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=November 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113175019/https://www.panthers.com/drumline/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Keep Pounding Drum===
Starting with the 2012 season, the Panthers introduced the Keep Pounding Drum, inspired by the aforementioned motivational speech by Sam Mills before the team's 2004 playoff game against the Cowboys.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/02/what-does-keep-pounding-mean-carolina-panthers-super-bowl-50 |title=How 'Keep Pounding' became the Panthers' inspirational team motto |first=Nick |last=Schwartz |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=February 1, 2016 |access-date=February 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208082118/http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/02/what-does-keep-pounding-mean-carolina-panthers-super-bowl-50 |archive-date=February 8, 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Prior to each home game, an honorary drummer hits the six-foot-tall drum four times to signify the four quarters of an American football game. According to the team, the drummers "come from a variety of backgrounds and occupations, but all have overcome a great trial or adversity that has not only made them strong but also pushes them to make others around them stronger". Drummers have included current and former Panthers players, military veterans, [[Make-A-Wish Foundation|Make-A-Wish]] children, and athletes from other sports, including [[NBA Most Valuable Player|NBA MVP]] and Charlotte native [[Stephen Curry]], [[United States women's national soccer team|US women's national soccer team]] players [[Whitney Engen]] and [[Heather O'Reilly]], and 7 time [[NASCAR]] [[NASCAR Cup Series|Cup Series]] champion [[Jimmie Johnson]].<ref name="Keep Pounding">{{cite web|title=Keep Pounding|url=https://www.panthers.com/community/keeppounding|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=Panthers.com|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308134840/https://www.panthers.com/community/keeppounding|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Songs and traditions===
During the inaugural season of the Panthers, the team had an official [[fight song]], which the team played before each home game.<ref name="Squad's '95 fans remember the team spirit">{{cite web|last=Squires|first=Chase|title=Squad's '95 fans remember the team spirit|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/01/news_pf/Citrus/Panthers__Squad_s__95.shtml|work=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|access-date=September 9, 2013|date=February 1, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105083918/http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/01/news_pf/Citrus/Panthers__Squad_s__95.shtml|archive-date=January 5, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The song, "Stand and Cheer", remains the team's official fight song,<ref name="Stand and Cheer">{{cite web|title=Stand and Cheer|url=https://www.panthers.com/audio/stand-and-cheer-410407|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=Panthers.com|date=March 19, 2009|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112011649/https://www.panthers.com/audio/stand-and-cheer-410407|url-status=live}}</ref> but the team does not typically play it before home games.<ref name="Squad's '95 fans remember the team spirit" /> Due to negative fan reaction "Stand and Cheer" was pulled in 1999. Since 2006, the song has returned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charlottefive.com/since-the-panthers-keep-winning-you-should-probably-learn-that-cheesy-stand-and-cheer-fight-song/|title=The story behind that cheesy "Stand and Cheer" Carolina Panthers fight song – CharlotteFive|first=Corey|last=Inscoe|date=October 27, 2015|website=CharlotteFive.com|access-date=January 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705004032/http://www.charlottefive.com/since-the-panthers-keep-winning-you-should-probably-learn-that-cheesy-stand-and-cheer-fight-song/|archive-date=July 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The team plays [[Neil Diamond]]'s "[[Sweet Caroline]]" after home victories.<ref name="Panthers like sweet sound of victory">{{cite web|last=Sorenson |first=Tom |title=Panthers like sweet sound of victory |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/10/25/759184/panthers-like-sweet-sound-of-victory.html |work=[[The News & Observer]] |access-date=September 9, 2010 |date=October 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130909153251/http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/10/25/759184/panthers-like-sweet-sound-of-victory.html |archive-date=September 9, 2013 }}</ref>
A "keep pounding" chant was introduced during the 2012 season which starts before the opening kickoff of each home game. As prompted by the video boards, one side of the stadium shouts "keep" and the other side replies with "pounding".<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOmq5ZcgC_Q| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/sOmq5ZcgC_Q| archive-date=November 14, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Keep Pounding|date=January 4, 2016 |access-date=July 15, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The chant is similar to ones that take place at college football games.

===Charity and community work===
The Carolina Panthers support a variety of non-profits in North and South Carolina through the Carolina Panthers Charities. Four annual scholarships are awarded to student athletes through the Carolina Panthers Graduate Scholarship and the Carolina Panthers Players Sam Mills Memorial Scholarship programs.<ref name="Carolina Panthers Charities">{{cite web|title=Charities|url=https://www.panthers.com/community/charities|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=Panthers.com|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125024636/https://www.panthers.com/community/charities|url-status=live}}</ref> Carolina Panthers Charities also offers grants to non-profits that support education, athletics, and human services in the community. The Panthers and Fisher Athletic have provided six equipment grants to high school football teams in the Carolinas each year since 2010.<ref name="Carolina Panthers Charities"/><ref name="Carolina Panthers – Fisher Athletic High School Equipment Grant">{{cite web|title=Carolina Panthers – Fisher Athletic High School Equipment Grant|url=http://prod.static.panthers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/fisher_equipment_grant.pdf|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=Panthers.com|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203130834/http://prod.static.panthers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/fisher_equipment_grant.pdf|archive-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Carolina Panthers Charities raises funds at three annual benefits: the Countdown to Kickoff Luncheon, the team's first public event each season; Football 101, an educational workshop for fans; and the Weekend Warrior Flag Football Tournament, a two-day non-contact [[flag football]] tournament. Another annual benefit is Taste of the Panthers, a gourmet food tasting which raises funds for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.<ref name="Charity Evens">{{cite web|title=Charity Events|url=http://www.panthers.com/community/charity-events.html|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=Panthers.com|access-date=September 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203132000/http://www.panthers.com/community/charity-events.html|archive-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003 the Panthers and Carolinas HealthCare Foundation established the Keep Pounding Fund, a fundraising initiative to support cancer research and patient support programs. The Panthers community has raised more than $1.4 million for the fund through direct donations, charity auctions, blood drives, and an annual 5k stadium run. The Panthers and [[Levine Children's Hospital]] coordinate monthly hospital visits and VIP game-day experiences for terminally ill or hospitalized children.<ref name="Keep Pounding" />

In addition to these team-specific efforts, the Panthers participate in a number of regular initiatives promoted by the NFL and [[USA Football]], the league's youth football development partner. These include USA Football Month, held throughout August to encourage and promote youth football; A Crucial Catch, the league's [[Breast Cancer Awareness Month]] program; Salute to Service, held throughout November to support military families and personnel; and PLAY 60, which encourages young NFL fans to be active for at least 60 minutes each day.<ref name="Community">{{cite web|title=Community|url=http://www.panthers.com/community/|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=Panthers.com|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127041344/https://www.panthers.com/community/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Radio and television===
[[File:Carolina Panthers radio affiliates.png|thumb|upright=1.3|Map shows the radio affiliates of the Carolina Panthers that broadcast game-day-related coverage across the [[Carolinas]] and [[Virginia]].]]
Radio coverage is provided by [[Flagship (broadcasting)|flagship]] station [[WRFX]] and through the Carolina Panthers Radio Network, with affiliates throughout the Carolinas and [[Virginia]]. The Panthers' radio broadcasting team is led by play-by-play voice [[Anish Shroff]], with [[Jake Delhomme]] as color analyst, and WBT sports director Jim Szoke as studio host. The radio network broadcasts pre-game coverage, games with commentary, and post-game wrap-ups. It also live-broadcasts ''Panther Talk'', a weekly event at Bank of America Stadium which offers fans a chance to meet a player and ask questions of the staff.<ref name="Radio">{{cite web|title=Panthers Television and Radio {{!}} Carolina Panthers - Panthers.com|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/television_radio|website=Carolina Panthers Official Website|publisher=[[National Football League]]|access-date=December 18, 2022|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126210746/https://www.panthers.com/news/television_radio|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<!--suggest moving to [[History of the Carolina Panthers]].
From 1995 to 2004, [[Bill Rosinski]] served as the team's play-by-play announcer. Rosinski was fired in 2005 and replaced by Mixon.<ref name="N.C. Sportscaster of the Year: Mick Mixon">{{cite web|url=http://archive.salisburypost.com/archive_detail.php?archiveFile=2005/May/03/Sports/17804.xml|title=N.C. Sportscaster of the Year: Mick Mixon|date=May 3, 2004|work=[[Salisbury Post]]|access-date=January 23, 2013}}</ref> In a public statement, the Carolina Panthers said they fired Rosinski to "go in a different direction", but Rosinski asserts that it had "obviously stuck in someone's craw" when he commented in an article that the most disappointing part of his career with the Panthers was not getting an NFC Championship ring.<ref name="Bill Rosinski">{{cite book|last=Rosinski|first=Bill|author2=Yasinskas, Pat|title=Bill Rosinski's Tales from the Carolina Panthers|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|year=2007|pages=124, 128, 131|isbn=978-1-59670-178-6|access-date=April 28, 2008}}</ref>-->

National broadcasting and cable television networks cover regular-season games, as well as some [[National Football League preseason|preseason]] games. Locally, Fox affiliate [[WJZY]] airs most regular-season games, while home games against an AFC team typically air on [[CBS]] affiliate [[WBTV]]. Any appearances on [[Monday Night Football]] are simulcast on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[WSOC-TV]], while any appearances on Thursday Night Football are simulcast on WSOC. Sunday night and some Thursday night games are aired on [[NBC]] affiliate [[WCNC-TV]].

All preseason games and team specials are televised by the Carolina Panthers Television Network on flagship station WSOC-TV in Charlotte and fourteen affiliate stations throughout the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, and [[Tennessee]]. WSOC took over as the Panthers' television partner for the 2019 season,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/wsoc-tv-carolina-panthers-announce-new-partnership/941099536|title=WSOC-TV, Carolina Panthers announce new partnership|publisher=[[WSOC-TV]]|date=April 17, 2019|access-date=April 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417232224/https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/wsoc-tv-carolina-panthers-announce-new-partnership/941099536|archive-date=April 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> replacing longtime television partner [[WCCB]], which had retained this role after losing the Fox affiliation to WJZY in 2013. As of 2021, the preseason television broadcasting team consists of play-by-play commentator Taylor Zarzour, [[color commentator|color analyst]] and former Panthers player [[Steve Smith Sr.|Steve Smith]], and sideline reporter Kristen Balboni. The network also hosts ''The Panthers Huddle'', a weekly show focusing on the Panthers' upcoming opponent.

The Panthers also offer game broadcasts in Spanish throughout both Carolinas and Mexico, with Jaime Moreno and Toño Ramos providing commentary.<ref name="b304">{{cite web | last=Zietlow | first=Alex | title=Carolina Panthers' Spanish-speaking broadcasters sing a joy everyone can understand | website=Charlotte Observer | date=December 28, 2023 | url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article283437118.html | access-date=July 31, 2024}}</ref>