Overview Carolina Blue Zone is an all-inclusive pregame tailgate a short walk from the nearest gate at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with all-you-can-eat food, unlimited drinks, live music and games for three hours before kickoff, and it sets up for the stadium's concerts and soccer as well as Panthers games. A tailgate ticket is sold on its own; stadium admission is separate. Gameday Hospitality runs it, a company with roots in Buffalo that operates branded tailgate zones in NFL cities from Buffalo and Pittsburgh to Kansas City, Las Vegas and San Francisco, plus college football tailgates at Michigan and Pitt. On site The tailgate sits at 1049 Winnifred Street, and start times follow the event, from 10 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon. DJs and live bands play, tailgate games and giveaways run through the afternoon, and a VIP seating area carries its own giveaways. Private tailgates can be booked. The 2026 calendar took in Charlotte FC against Austin and Inter Miami, a U.S. men's national team match, an All-Star Game, concerts by Zach Bryan, Bruno Mars, Post Malone and Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, AC/DC and Ed Sheeran, and the Panthers' home schedule. Audience Everyone inside has paid for the tailgate on top of a ticket to the game or show, and spends the three hours before it eating and drinking a short walk from the gate. Groups and corporate hosts book it as well as individual fans. Track record In 2025 Carolina Blue Zone ran 14 events for more than 1,400 guests, backed by seven season sponsors. Brand presence Sponsorships cover every event on the calendar. The presenting sponsor's logo is built into the Carolina Blue Zone logo, and it gets banners, a 10-by-10 activation space for sampling, social mentions and co-branded ticket giveaways at every event, tickets to each one, and credit toward Gameday Hospitality events in its other markets. Up to ten beverage sponsors each get a bar feature such as a cocktail of the week, and a single food sponsor supplies the buffet in exchange for exclusive food billing. Add-ons put a logo on the cups, napkins and can coolers or on the DJ tent, or name a cocktail on the bar menu after the brand. Every level includes photo and video coverage.