The song has been played at Fenway Park , home of Major League Baseball 's Boston Red Sox , since at least 1997 , and in the middle of the eighth inning at every game since 2002 . On opening night of the 2010 season at Fenway Park , the song was performed live by Diamond himself . It is also an unofficial song of the National Football League 's Carolina Panthers ( played following a home victory ) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , being played at athletic events and pep rallies . This is likely due to the fact that Caroline is a variation of the feminine given name Carolina . " Sweet Caroline " was played at Penn State Nittany Lions football games at Beaver Stadium until August 2012 , halting after the Penn State child sex abuse scandal . Performances at Beaver Stadium resumed in September 2013 , however . The song is played at the start of the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh Panthers Football games at Heinz Field . In response , West Virginia University students and fans will yell " eat shit , Pitt " during the refrain if heard played . On April 16 , 2013 , the day after the Boston Marathon bombing , the New York Yankees &ndash; longtime rivals of the Red Sox &ndash; announced they would play the song during their home game , preceded by a moment of silence , as a tribute to the victims . On Saturday , April 20 , 2013 , during the 8th inning of the Red Sox-Kansas City game in Fenway Park , Neil Diamond led the crowd in a rendition of the song . The song was sung at sporting events across the country after the Boston Marathon bombings , in efforts to show solidarity with those affected by the tragedy . It was also played right before the start of the Hamburg Marathon in Hamburg , Germany , on Sunday , April 21 , 2013 , subsequent to a minute of silence . The song was also played before the start of the Stockholm Marathon in Stockholm , Sweden , on Saturday , June 1 , 2013 , as a tribute to those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings
Boston Marathon bombing
Boston Marathon bombing
Sweet Caroline