A game plan for growth: How the Carolina Panthers remade every part of operation — including Bank of America Stadium

When the Carolina Panthers kicked off the NFL franchise’s 27th season on Sept. 12, a near-capacity crowd of over 70,000 fans filled the stands at Bank of America Stadium. That alone represents a stark contrast with 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic forced the Panthers to play their home opener in an empty stadium. Things improved only slightly as the season went on. By the time of the second home game, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper had lightly loosened health protocols for mass gatherings, allowing…