SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Football fans will get the chance Saturday to celebrate the newest class of NFL rookies at the Carolina Panthers Draft Party: Celebrating 20 Years of Training Camp in Spartanburg set for noon to 5 p.m. at Hickory Tavern on Fernwood Drive.
This summer marks the 20th year Spartanburg has gotten a first-hand look at the Panthers at summer training camp at Wofford College.
“This is a very special year as we celebrate the 20 years the Panthers have called Spartanburg and Wofford their summer home,” says Debbi Thompson, director of alumni and parents programs at Wofford. “We are so excited to welcome the team back each year. This Carolina Panthers Draft Party will give us all a chance to continue to be a part of the Panthers’ team as they gear up for training camp and the season.”
Saturday’s party will allow fans to watch as the Panthers continue in the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday night, airing on CBS. They will enjoy food specials, Budweiser beer specials, Panthers trivia and a corn hole tournament. Rock 101 (WROQ) will be on site broadcasting live. There will be music, giveaways and more, and official Panthers draft hats will be available for purchase.
TopCat cheerleaders also will make an appearance from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
The party is being sponsored by Wofford College and Hickory Tavern.
The Panthers have trained at Wofford each summer since their 1995 inaugural season, and Wofford has been called one of the NFL’s finest training facilities. The team was founded by Wofford alumnus Jerry Richardson, who played football for the Terriers and the Baltimore Colts. Nearly 375,000 visitors have attended the free and open practices on campus during training camp since 1995, and in 2013 attendance reached an all-time high of more than 45,500 people.