High school football heads to Bank of America Stadium for the first time

What’s happening: The inaugural Keep Pounding High School Classic will feature Providence Day vs. Northwestern High on Aug. 19 at 7pm.

Why it matters: This will be the first high school football game played at Bank of America Stadium — something Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper promised when he purchased the team in 2018 as one of many events he wanted to bring to the stadium.

• Bank of America Stadium is now home to two professional teams in the Panthers and Charlotte FC, whose youth sides have played several matches there.
• The stadium has hosted a number of concerts, and will be a stop on Beyoncé’s tour this summer.
• “I want to utilize the stadium a lot more for the community because I think that’s important as being a member of the community,” Tepper said during his introductory press conference in 2018.

Of note: The Panthers had planned to host a game featuring Myers Park vs. Rock Hill’s South Pointe High School in 2020, but the game was canceled due to the pandemic, as the Observer noted.

Details: Tickets for the game cost $5, and will be available this summer.

Of note: Northwestern went 14-2 last season, making it to the 4A state championship in South Carolina. Providence Day won their second straight NCISAA state championship going 12-1.