The Black Hole

Lore & Background

The Black Hole is a notorious fan section at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. It originated during the team's time in Oakland and is famous for its rowdy, costumed fans who create a hostile environment for opposing teams. The Carolina Panthers have no connection to this fan section.

In Their Own Story

The roof was closed. It was a November Friday, and the air inside the dome had that particular stillness that comes before a kickoff — the hum of the PA system, the distant thump of the Jumbotron bass, the smell of hot dogs and cold beer mixing in the concourse. In the lower bowl, behind the south end zone, the Black Hole was already a living thing. Thousands of black jerseys, blue scarves, silver face paint. A woman in row twelve was adjusting her son's helmet-shaped hat. An old man three rows back was muttering a prayer, or maybe a threat, to the visiting quarterback who would never know his name. Then the tunnel doors opened. The Panthers came out in their black-and-blue, shoulder pads catching the stadium lights, helmets gleaming. And The Black Hole detonated. It was not a cheer. It was a sound like the earth shifting, like a freight train passing through a tunnel with no exit. The roof bounced it back. The field vibrated. Somewhere in the upper bowl, a visiting team's backup linebacker pressed his palms over his ears and whispered, 'Jesus, what is that place?'

The old man in row nine stopped muttering. He was smiling. He had been coming to this game for twenty years. He knew exactly what that sound meant. It meant the Black Hole was awake, and tonight, nobody was leaving this dome until the Panthers had won.

Reader's Guide

The source article does not describe the location, seating, or any specific features of the Black Hole within the stadium.

Did You Know?

• The Black Hole is a fan section of the Las Vegas Raiders, not the Carolina Panthers.
• Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers, is an open-air stadium with no retractable roof.