How do Panthers fans cope with being Panthers fans?

I was watching the Panthers/Giants game today, and there were some points, very early in the game mind you, where it seemed like it couldve been a Giants home game.

It had me reflecting on being a Panthers fan and a fan of professional sports in NC in general. NC is a state with a swelling population with metropolitan areas around Charlotte and Raleigh that have been at or near the top of the fastest growing areas in the country for the past couple decades or so. This is mostly due to an influx of transplants from the Northeast and it doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon.

I've been to several Hurricanes games here when they play NorthEastern teams, most recently I attended a game in which they played the New York Rangers. Id say AT LEAST half of the crowd were rangers supporters. It was incredibly disheartening as someone with a mild interest in the sport, yet wanting to enjoy the game and atmosphere, to view it in an environment where I didn't even really have the camaraderie of sitting in a packed house of fans rooting for the same team as I. When I moved to Raleigh, I was excited to become a fan of the NHL. Growing up in Louisiana I attended a few ice gators games and that was the extent of my hockey experience. I still have never ice skated before. But going to a game that is a virtual away game in your home arena is just depressing. It really makes me disinterested in attending another, at least against a team that will have more away fans than home fans.

The point is, I realized today that the Panthers have the same problem, albeit likely to a lesser extent since the Panthers franchise is much more established here than the Canes. But it still made me consider how depressing it would be to attend a Panthers games against teams like the Steelers, Patriots, or Giants where there would be a large contingent of fans. Away fans are not something I want to encounter at my home venue. Part of what makes the superdome great is the unity amongst so many inside the dome. The place gets rocking and it is a great party. To me there is a stark contrast between that of a Panthers home game and a Saints home game. Granted this is likely not entirely due to the aforementioned reasons, but it definitely plays a part.

I suppose many Panthers fans that do not live in Charlotte or attend games may not encounter this issue to this extent. But I wonder how terrible it must be to be an avid Panthers, Canes, Bobcats fan. Id probably find a reason to root for some other franchise.