SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Carolina Panthers’ 2016 training camp presented by Lowe’s opens Thursday, July 28, with the Lowe’s Kickoff Party. The team will practice from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Gibbs Stadium on the campus of Wofford College, which will host training camp for the 22nd consecutive year.

The Lowe’s Kickoff Party starts at 4:30 p.m.; gates open at 4 p.m.

“This year marks 22 years of outstanding support from Wofford, the City of Spartanburg and the entire Spartanburg community,” team president Danny Morrison says. “Training camp continues to be a first-class, family-friendly experience for our fans, and we thank everyone who works so diligently to make it so.”

“Having the Carolina Panthers return to our campus and Spartanburg again for another training camp is very exciting,” Wofford President Nayef Samhat says. “It makes us proud to host the thousands of football fans from around the region, across the country and right here at home who come to watch these elite professionals prepare for their season. Coming off the fantastic 2015 Super Bowl season means we anticipate even more fans here this year. Nowhere else can one get so close to the action.”

For the second year, Lowe’s is the training camp sponsor and with its help, the team has implemented more new fan amenities and continues to build on the beautified viewing grounds created last year. “We are extremely excited for our fans to return to watch our players practice from these upgraded viewing areas,” Morrison says. “Lowe’s motto is, ‘Never stop improving,’ and it’s a mindset we share on and off the field. We are pleased to have them back as a sponsor.” All 15 practices at training camp, which concludes Tuesday, Aug. 16, and additional activities are free and open to the public. (Practice times and locations are subject to change without notice.)

Training camp once again will present Panthers Pals, a special experience especially for children. Panthers Pals offers children between the ages of 6 and 13 an opportunity to watch part of practice from field level and then spend time with a player afterward. Kids can register to be a Panthers Pal outside the entrance to the practice fields. Five names will be chosen randomly about 30 minutes before the end of practice.

Due to the construction of the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on Wofford’s campus, access to primary parking lots will be via Pearl Street between Pine Street and Church Street. Free shuttle service will be provided from several off-campus locations for fan convenience.