North Charlotte Today

CHARLOTTE—Charlotte's summer temperatures often exceed 90 degrees, accompanied by high humidity. As the Carolina Panthers commence their training camp at Bank of America Stadium this week, the team has invested $200,000 in a cooling trailer to ensure player safety and comfort on the updated practice fields.

"It's just another tool for the toolbox," said Director of Human Performance Andrew Althoff on Tuesday while introducing reporters to one of their latest additions. "Like we have pools inside, saunas, red light therapy, all that kind of stuff. So it's another tool that the players can use, put in their toolbox and help them perform at practice every day and then on game day as well."

The trailer accommodates up to 30 players simultaneously at a set temperature of 20 degrees. Equipped with sports drinks and towels, it allows players to cool off during breaks or after practice for a recommended two minutes.

Head athletic trainer Kevin King and his staff will continuously monitor player conditions and advise on how frequently they should use the trailer. "There's a lot of folks that are monitoring the athletes to see how they're responding to heat stress," King stated. "So, our collective education…there's a variety of things that we can look at to understand their hydration status and their risk in the heat."

Althoff emphasized that the cooling trailer enables continued practice without significant interruptions. "Instead of having to immerse one into a cold tank or remove them from practice, this is a resource where they can get that exposure, two minutes in the trailer, and then return back to practice. It's a quick, efficient way to do that," he explained.

Players have access to the trailer at their discretion but will be monitored by athletic trainers and wellness staff to prevent cramping or other issues.

Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney remarked on his first experience with such a facility in his 11-year career: "You can't get in there when the game starts" but for now he'll be using it "every break. I plan on using it every break I get."

King noted that several NFL teams and Division I football programs like Florida State, LSU, and South Carolina also utilize cooling trailers. After consulting with colleagues from these programs about their effectiveness, King felt confident about implementing this feature in Charlotte.

The Panthers' training camp—their first ever hosted in Charlotte—will begin with three days of practice on new fields before concluding with "Back Together Saturday" at Bank of America Stadium. Full pads practices will start next week.

"I think it's just about pacing it out," Althoff explained regarding their gradual approach. "We feel good about where we're at and we understand the end goal is to be able to perform on Sunday... We take our time; we're patient... setting stage early and just pacing things out."