Carolina Takes London 2019

Over 900 Panthers Fans Invade London with the Roaring Riot

In October 2019, the Roaring Riot — in partnership with Big Game Travel — pulled off something that had never been done before: taking 900+ Carolina Panthers fans across the Atlantic to London for a full week-long experience built around the Panthers' international game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. What followed was the single most ambitious fan trip in Panthers history — Windsor Castle on arrival day, a self-guided tour of London's greatest landmarks, a day trip to Paris, a sold-out Pep Rally at the historic Banking Hall that drew Panthers owner David Tepper himself, a Piccadilly Circus pub crawl, and an all-inclusive gameday tailgate just blocks from the stadium. It was the trip that proved Panthers fans travel like no other fanbase in the NFL — and it was the spark that inspired the creation of Sports Fans Travel.

London has a way of hitting differently when you're experiencing it with 900 of your closest Panthers fans. The week kicked off with a stop at Windsor Castle straight off the plane — a full guided tour of one of the most iconic royal residences in the world before most people had even caught their breath from the overnight flight. From there the group spread out across the city with Hop-On Hop-Off passes, hitting St. Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Thames River Cruise, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye over two days. For those who wanted more, an optional day trip whisked a portion of the group through the Channel Tunnel to Paris and back in a single day. By the time Friday's Pep Rally rolled around at the stunning Banking Hall — a converted Victorian bank in the heart of the city — the energy was at a fever pitch, and the surprise appearance of Panthers owner David Tepper brought the house down.

Gameday in London was unlike anything 900+ Panthers fans had ever experienced. The group loaded buses from the hotel and descended on a community center — the only venue in the area capable of holding a crowd that size — for a three-hour all-inclusive tailgate just blocks from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Open bar, a full food spread, a DJ, and the kind of pregame energy that only a fanbase willing to cross an ocean can generate. When 1:30pm hit, the group marched to the stadium together — a sea of black and blue cutting through North London — and into one of the most architecturally stunning venues in sports for a 2:30pm kickoff. Nine hundred Panthers fans, one of the greatest cities in the world, and a football game. It doesn't get much better than that.

The Itinerary

Day 1 – Departure from Charlotte
Flights departed Charlotte Douglas International Airport as 900+ Roaring Riot members kicked off the most ambitious fan trip in Panthers history — with a sendoff at the Roaring Riot Pale Ale tap in Concourse A, naturally.

Day 2 – Arrival in London + Windsor Castle
Touched down at Heathrow, cleared customs, and headed straight to Windsor Castle for a guided tour of the legendary royal residence — boxed lunch in hand — before checking into the hotel steps from St. Paul's Cathedral.

Day 3 – Self-Guided Tour of London
A full day exploring London's greatest landmarks with Hop-On Hop-Off passes — St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Thames River Cruise, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye.

Day 4 – Paris Day Trip + London Leisure
An optional day trip through the Channel Tunnel to Paris for a whirlwind day of sightseeing in the City of Light, while those staying in London had a free day to explore at their own pace.

Day 5 – Roaring Riot Pep Rally at Banking Hall
An exclusive Pep Rally at the stunning Banking Hall — a converted Victorian bank in the heart of London — with an open bar, butlered appetizers, a DJ, photo booth, and a surprise appearance by Panthers owner David Tepper.

Day 6 – Group Photo + Piccadilly Circus Pub Crawl
A group photo on the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral, complete with a Prosecco and beer truck on the way out the door, followed by a Panthers takeover of Piccadilly Circus across three iconic London venues.

Day 7 – Historic Gameday
Buses to an incredible venue near Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a three-hour all-inclusive tailgate, followed by a group march to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to watch the Panthers take on the Buccaneers in front of a sold-out London crowd.

Day 8 – Departure from London
One last morning in the city before buses departed for Heathrow, closing out a week that would go on to inspire the founding of Sports Fans Travel.

2019 Panthers vs Bucs NFL London Game Recap

Photo Courtesy: Kevin Ketchie/Roaring Riot

The Panthers gave their 900+ traveling faithful exactly what they came for. Carolina dominated from the opening whistle, building a 27-7 lead through three quarters behind a brilliant performance from Christian McCaffrey, who scored two touchdowns and was the engine of everything the offense did all day. Backup quarterback Kyle Allen was sharp and efficient, completing touchdown passes to both McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel while the Carolina defense turned a five-interception performance by Jameis Winston into a relentless scoring machine — converting those turnovers into 17 points and effectively ending the game as a contest before the fourth quarter began.

Tampa Bay made it slightly interesting late, scoring two touchdowns in the final five minutes to close the gap to 37-26, but the outcome was never in doubt. The Panthers rolled to their fourth consecutive victory and the sold-out crowd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — heavily populated with black and blue — celebrated accordingly. For 900+ fans who had spent a week crossing the Atlantic, touring Windsor Castle, drinking their way through Piccadilly Circus, and dancing at the Banking Hall with Panthers owner David Tepper, watching Carolina dismantle the Buccaneers in London was the perfect ending to a perfect week. Read the full game recap here.