I haven't worked in CLT since the Cooties of 2020, so I don't know what has changed, but The Alley at Latta Arcade always had plenty of places to grab a bite and a beverage. Even if restaurants closed, new ones would have opened in their place, it is what they do.
My middle child, who loathes everything city life, will put a smile on his face and even put on a clean shirt if I tell him I am taking him to Cowbell for his birthday. He knows a burger, loves a burger, and says Cowbell's are the best he has ever had. They have great fries and a well stocked bar, if that is your thing.
If you want more trendy, you will find plenty of those too. Charlotte is all about trendy. The stadium is down near the interstate loop around the city, so anywhere you park inside that loop, you will be near enough to a good place to eat.
I might even recommend parking on the outskirts of town and riding the train in to the game. From the north side of town, see if you can get to NODA. From the south side, the Southend district is full of places right along the rail line. You'd have plenty of good trendy options there, too, perhaps with a bit smaller crowd.
I am not terribly fond of CLT downtown. It is too new, too modern, and doesn't have the charm or character of a place like Boston. But, if you haven't been, it is not hard to navigate, as long as you realize the roads all run tilted 45 degrees from NS/EW.
EDIT:
@NighthawkVol here is a link to stops along the train line. It hasn't been updated since 2019, but if you see something you like, you can google to see if it is still there. The train line is fairly new, clean, and well run. All above ground. If you run into any chaos in Charlotte, feel free to reach out. I am a bit of a drive from there, and I am playing that afternoon in a cancer charity golf fundraiser, but I can make it down with bail money before Sunday morning if I have to.
Places to eat along Charlotte light rail
