S’ SUPER SEASON

This was the crowd’s view of Levi’s Stadium, the site of Super Bowl 50. BRIAN PILLE ’14, Human Resources Assistant

“This was my third season working for the Carolina Panthers and there was definitely a different feel to this season. When we opened up the stadium for Fan Fest, an unprecedented 55,000 people came out. As the season progressed, it was clear that we had something special here. Our team was winning and having fun doing it and that attracted a lot of attention. Even after a tough loss on the road toward the end of the season, the team returned to the stadium to a cheering, fan-filled parking lot. In short, as a former student-athlete studying sports management, this year is what I have always aspired to be a part of. It was a dream come true.”

BONNIE CREIGHTON ALMOND ’10, Guest Relations Coordinator, Stadium Operations

“The excitement from our record certainly boosted the determination around the office, but that didn’t mean it was going to be easier as the season extended. Post-season games are regular season games on steroids — you need to beef up your staffing numbers, tighten down on security and pre- pare for more potential fan issues …At the Super Bowl, our department helped manage the luggage drop-off for staff/family. We were the last to board the buses to the airport and the first to board coming back — however, once we were there, we were able to enjoy the trip with our families and co-workers.”

JAMES HAMMOND ’88,

Director of Information Technology, Carolina Panthers and Panthers Stadium

“I handled logistics, ordering, and shipping for the enormous amount of technology we had to send to the team hotel and meeting site. Three of my IT staff had to … handle the setup of the equipment at the hotel and meeting site. They arrived in California seven to 12 days in advance of the game to make sure everything was ready for the team and coaches who arrived a week before the game. Their work was difficult and invaluable.”

RYAN PETRUS ’06, Guest Relations/Security Manager, Stadium Operations

“The weeks leading up to the NFC Championship game and Super Bowl were just electric around the city and you could see that it was touching so many people in North and South Carolina. It was a priv- ilege to be part of that. However, when you’re working the games you tend to focus on your job and what needs to be done. I don’t think it really hit me until we won the NFC Championship, and I knew we had no more home games to work. I remember being with my co-workers as the seconds ticked off the clock, and I felt so proud of everything we accomplished as a group.”

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