Charlotte's Big-league Sports Entertainment

The Queen City Pro Sports Scene Offers Fun For All Ages

- Aaron Garcia

With a pro team in pretty much every sport, there’s always a game (or race) to take your kids to in Charlotte. Even better, they all have family-friendly extras to help you get the most for your ticket price.

Carolina Panthers

Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St., Charlotte If your definition of tailgating now includes towing tiny ones around, the Carolina Panthers have you covered. Panthers in the Park, held before each home game at Romare Bearden Park, lets kids practice their skills while also meeting TopCats cheerleaders and the Panthers’ mascot Sir Purr. Once inside the stadium, head to the area outside gate 138 to visit Sir Purr’s Play 60 Den, where the young ones can try on football pads, pretend to be play-by-play announcers and run around on astroturf. If your little ones don’t share your pigskin passion, grease their wheels beforehand by enrolling them in either the Little Purrs Newborn Club (ages 3 and under) or the Kids Club (4 and older). For $25 a year, the team showers club members with fan-building goodies such as merchandise, birthday cards, a stadium tour and magazine subscription. panthers.com.

Charlotte Hornets Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St., Charlotte