The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (tel. 704/972-2003; www.charlottesymphony.org) season runs from September to May; check local newspapers or call for performance dates. Opera Carolina (tel. 704/332-7177; www.operacarolina.org) presents performances from October to April, and the Charlotte Pops (tel. 704/332-0468; www.charlottesymphony.org) gives outdoor concerts (small fee) in Freedom Park on Sunday evenings in the summer. Classic plays are often performed by Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd. (tel. 704/376-3777; www.theatrecharlotte.org), usually Thursday to Sunday. The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. (tel. 704/372-1000; www.blumenthalcenter.org), is the newest facility to join the performance venues; it features three theaters for productions ranging from rock concerts to intimate stage events.
If you're in town and want to catch a live professional football game, a limited number of single-game tickets are available. For tickets to see the Carolina Panthers, visit the Bank of America Stadium Ticket Office (tel. 704/358-7800; 800 S. Mint St., southeast side of the stadium; Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm); or order through Ticketmaster (tel. 704/522-6500; www.cpanthers.com or www.ticketmaster.com). The city also has a pro basketball team, the Charlotte Bobcats (tel. 704/262-2287; www.nba.com/bobcats). The majority holder is Robert Johnson, the Black Entertainment Channel (BET) multimillionaire and the first prominent African-American owner in U.S. sports. The Bobcats' new $265-million uptown arena opened in 2005.
