Demand for free tickets to the Carolina Panthers’ annual Fan Fest paralyzed the team’s Ticketmaster service Friday morning as fans flooded the site to reserve their seats.
The site opened at 10 a.m. Friday, and by 5 p.m. all of the 60,000 tickets available tickets for the Aug. 5 event had been claimed.
Phil Youtsey, the Panthers’ executive director of ticketing and sponsorship, said Friday afternoon that he understood the process was frustrating for some fans but appreciated the support.
“We knew today people would go on, and to be honest with you the ticket system was overwhelmed and stressed out,” Youtsey said.