When: August 24, 2017
What: Panthers at Jaguars
Where: EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL
I often get asked, “Which one away game should I go to this year?” With all other variants bring equal – package price, ticket availability/location, coolness of the city – I tend to push people towards any of the AFC opponents on our schedule that year. Mainly because the way the NFL schedule rotates we only get to play AT those opponents’ venues once every eight years. Eight years is a long time in the sports world. Think about it this way… if you didn’t go to Denver last year then you’ll never seen a Cam Newton vs Von Miller in-their-primes matchup in Mile High City. Or, if you didn’t head out to Oakland then you’ll never get to see the Panthers at the Oakland Raiders; before last season, the last time the Panthers played there, Jamarcus Russell was the starting quarterback. This is why it is so bittersweet to think about the 2015 Jacksonville Takeover. It was the most unbelievable experience I’ve ever had at an away game, but we won’t play IN Jacksonville again until 2023 and there is a ZERO percent chance I’ll be taking my shirt off in a pool at an NFL game at my age in 2023 (you’re welcome).
And then it happened.
I got a call from the Jaguars ticket office a few days before the preseason schedule was released and they told me that we were coming back! That’s right – the Panthers are heading back down to play in Jacksonville and the black and blue of the Panthers fans will once again dominate the poolside cabanas AND there is still a chance, albeit small, that I’ll be able to take my shirt off and do a cannonball in the EverBank Field pools! Rejoice!
The poolside cabanas in EverBank Field are BY FAR the most awesome VIP experience you’ll ever get to have at a NFL game. If you don’t believe me ask any of the 330 Roaring Riot members who were in them in 2015. The cabanas even won an International award for the best experience in all of sports. Seriously – there isn’t any in-game experience for a fan better than this. And not only do you get to experience the pools, you get to do it with a TON of Panthers fans while Cam Newton is dropping bombs on the field and showing the rest of the world that he’s back for three quarters.
Don’t get me wrong, I know this is not the perfect scenario for away game travel. For starters, it’s a preseason game. If you know someone who despises preseason football more than I do please send them my way, I’d love to meet them. If there is some silver lining, it’s that it’s the third game of the preseason so we’ll get a three quarter look at the starters. Personally, I can’t wait to see how RUN CMC does compared to Leonard Fournette, preseason game or not. And, it’s on a Thursday night. Ugh! That can make it a little tough to break away from the j-o-b, but at least you’ve got plenty of time to get your PTO notice in. If there’s ever a good opportunity to use one of those precious vacation days, it’ll be recovering from this epic game trip.
Here’s a little preview of how the 2017 JAX Takeover is going to go down:
12:00pm – Our pregame pool party at the Double Tree Riverside kicks off. The Roaring Riot is picking up the tab on some drinks to get everyone going.
4:00pm – Our private water taxis show up at the hotel to take us across the river.
4:30pm – After arriving on the stadium side of the river we cruise over to Intuition Ale Works for a few brews and to check out their rooftop patio. (Easy on the Eyes Session IPA is my recommendation)
5:30pm – The party in our poolside cabanas inside EverBank Field begins. We have TWO HOURS of an open bar (beer and wine) and food pool party inside of a NFL stadium before the game even starts. So sick!
7:30pm – Game Time. Go Panthers!
9:50pm – Start of the 3rd quarter. All stadium concession stands stop serving, all the starters come out of the game, and you can stop caring about the action on the field. Don’t worry, your open bar party continues in the cabanas.
10:30pm – Game ends. Post-game pool party (cash bar) with DJ.
12:30am – Party is over. You don’t have to go back to the hotel but you can’t stay in the pools.
There’s a 5:30AM flight back to Charlotte if you’re desperate to save that vacation day for the next away game trip. Otherwise, we’ll be heading to Jacksonville Beach to make a weekend out of it. Sign up for the trip here. Don’t forget Roaring Riot members always get a discount.
