Carolina Panthers Unveil Alternate Black Helmets For Upcoming Season

The Carolina Panthers are going to have a different look this season, and I'm not just talking about the addition of quarterback Baker Mayfield. The team has unveiled alternate black helmets for the 2022-23 campaign, something that fans have been wanting to see for quite some time.

According to the Panthers official website, the new helmets will be paired with the all-black color rush uniforms during the team’s Thursday Night Football game against the Atlanta Falcons on November 10th. It's the Panthers' only nationally televised game scheduled for the upcoming season.

The Panthers posted some photos of the helmet and full color rush uniform on Instagram. They chose defensive end Brian Burns and safety Jeremy Chinn to show off the new "evil twin" look:

I like it! It looks intimidating. If the Panthers beat the Falcons on November 10th, they may want to think about rocking this uniform every season. Here's a closer look at the black helmet:

For me at least it's hard to fathom paying more for Panthers tickets, especially with the current trajectory the team seems to be headed towards. After two lackluster seasons and a lack of action (ie firing Matt Rhule), many many fans feel the same way. Listen I hope I eat my words and this turns out to be a playoff team. But nothing we've seen so far gives me that hope. So when I read this study by Betway and saw the projected increase in prices I was a little shocked. According to this Panthers, fans can expect to pay 29% more for the complete gameday experience by 2025.

Betway analyzed and compared the average prices of a ticket, parking spot, beer, hot dog, soft drink and jersey for each of the 32 teams. Then they ranked each NFL team based on the future cost of supporting the franchises.  

And I mean 29% isn't good. But almost seems on par with the current inflation. We could be Raiders fans. The Las Vegas Raiders have a forecasted total cost of $711.31 which is 99% higher than the current cost! Yeah, that's actually insane. Not a chance I pay that unless it's a playoff game. Even then would be tough to justify.  A lot of this is due to the Raiders having the most expensive forecasted ticket price at $469.12 overall. They are also projected to have the highest cost for a jersey. 

So how much will Panthers fans expect to pay on gameday? Read on for the list of the total current and forecasted costs of being a fan of each NFL team and the percentage price increase:

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $387.16

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $771.31

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 99%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $343.4

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $554.67

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 62%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $330.62

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $500.41

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 51%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $364.64

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $482.48

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 32%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $363.53

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $466.76

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 28%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $310.44

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $443.95

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 43%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $331.59

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $430.15

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 30%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $337

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $417.36

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 24%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $341.4

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $414.92

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): $22%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $321.48

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $413.60

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 29%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $353.68

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $411.10

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 16%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $354.09

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $410.20

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 16%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $355.94

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $409.44

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 15%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $311.48

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $403.30

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 29%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $314.75

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $399.59

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 27%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $345.06

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $398.68

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 16%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $321.95

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $398.33

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 24%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $321.88

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $393.18

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 22%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $328.91

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $386.35

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 17%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $342.74

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $379.66

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 11%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $324.36

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $379.20

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 17%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $302.11

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $376.23

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 25%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $317.07

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $371.40

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 17%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $309.93

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $368.72

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 19%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $309.14

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $368.26

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 19%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $352.37

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $366.84

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 4%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $307.66

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $360.62

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 17%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $280.65

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $353.77

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 26%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $297.28

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $353.25

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 19%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $297.16

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $334.56

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 13%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $305.82

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $331.17

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 8%

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2021: $283.04

Individual Total Cost ($) - 2025: $329.42

Individual Total Cost Percentage Change (%): 16%