The 12th Man flag will not be flying loud and proud at the upcoming Seattle-Carolina playoff game, but it will not be for a lack of Seahawks fans.
At the Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, fan flags can be no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet, according to WSOC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina.
And as it may feel like an unfriendly move toward the Seahawks, a revised banner policy went into place in November after Panthers quarterback Cam Newton tore down a Packers fan’s banner.
Stadium officials said the incident at the Green Bay game did play a role in prompting them to review the policy, but there were talks before that about changing it.
Panthers fans and rival teams alike will still be allowed to bring signs into the stadium, as long as they fit within the new size requirements.
"The policy is 24-by-24 (inches) and one person has to hold it," Scott Paul, the Panthers' director of stadium operations, told the Charlotte Observer. "So if something's obviously larger than that 24-by-24 or obstructing someone from behind, our people will get involved. Otherwise, as long as it's a football-related message, we're going to allow it. That's really no change in policy. The only thing we changed was size."
The Seattle Seahawks retired the number 12 jersey in 1984 in honor of their fans. 12th Man flags are typically seen all over the Seattle area when the team make the playoffs.
