Hotels for Carolina Panthers v Baltimore Ravens

An NFL Sunday between two AFC and NFC South rivals with a long shared history from their days in the same division. Kickoff falls early on the local clock, so tailgates start well before sunrise as fans grill and gather in the stadium lots. Inside, expect a physical, defence-heavy contest given both franchises' recent identities. Autumn temperatures make for a crisp, comfortable afternoon of football either way.

Carolina was awarded an expansion franchise in 1993 and began play in 1995, its owner choosing the panther as a symbol of quiet power to represent a state without an existing major pro sports team of its own. The Panthers reached the Super Bowl twice, after the 2003 and 2015 seasons, without a win; the 2015 team, led by MVP quarterback Cam Newton, went 15-1 in the regular season before falling in the title game.

The franchise plays in uptown Charlotte, a rare NFL stadium within walking distance of a city's downtown core. Newton's dynamic, dual-threat style during that era remains the standard by which the position is measured in Carolina to this day.

Home to the Carolina Panthers, Bank of America Stadium sits in uptown Charlotte, an increasingly confident city centre of modern towers and an expanding restaurant scene. The stadium is genuinely central, with the NoDa arts district and the city's bars all within easy reach. The Lynx Blue Line light rail runs through uptown, linking the stadium area to the wider metro. Booking a room in uptown means you can walk to the game through the city's buzz and step back into the neighbourhood once it ends.