The Panthers have trekked to Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., for training camp every year since the franchise’s 1995 debut. The COVID-19 pandemic will force the team to break that tradition.
This year, the Panthers will hold their training camp at the team’s facility in Charlotte, Pete Yanity of WSPA reports. The Athletic’s Joe Person confirmed (via Twitter) the team will stay home for camp and added the NFL does not want teams leaving their facilities for camps this year.
While teams have opted over the years to avoid training camp trips, some teams still leave their facilities. And four teams’ camps are based in California, where no green light to conduct camps has been given as of yet. As such, the 49ers and Cowboys — who use Oxford, Calif., as their campsite — have discussed leaving the state for camp. The NFL may be against travel of this sort, pointing to California being open for business for camps come late July and the Cowboys staying in Texas rather than packing up for their annual late-summer trip.
Earlier this month, the Panthers had hoped they could keep camp at Wofford. Owner David Tepper said last year the team’s only two options for camp were Spartanburg and in its home facility. The latter option appears to be the course of action in this historically unusual offseason.