The Florida Panthers, fresh off their historic 2024 Stanley Cup championship, are offering one of the most affordable gameday experiences in the NHL for the upcoming 2024-25 season. This is a significant shift from the team’s past struggles with attendance, which had previously led them to resort to free or nearly-free ticket giveaways in the 2010s. However, those days are now behind the Panthers. With their first championship in franchise history secured, the team is focused on providing great value for their loyal fans. Infact, the Panthers are offering donation-based admission for their September 22nd preseason doubleheader against the Nashville Predators, with all proceeds benefiting the Florida Panthers Foundation and the growth of youth hockey in South Florida.
Reflecting on a Pivotal Moment: 14 Years Since the Tarps Announcement
Monday marked the 14th anniversary of the Florida Panthers’ announcement regarding their decision to sell advertising rights for tarps that would cover seats in the less desirable areas of their arena in Sunrise. This is not an anniversary the team commemorates or takes pride in.
A Unique Strategy for a Challenging Time
This unconventional strategy, unusual for an NHL team, aimed to reduce the arena’s official capacity of 19,250. At the time, the Panthers had little use for that many seats, aside from a couple of games each season. However, the situation has since changed dramatically.
The Context of 2010: A Struggling Franchise
For fans unfamiliar with the team’s history, it may be difficult to imagine that in 2010, the Panthers—who hadn’t made the playoffs since 2000 and wouldn’t again until 2012—sought to lower capacity to create demand for a product that had been lacking.“Our building is just too big,” said then-team president Michael Yormark in 2010. “It would be too big for a lot of teams in the league.”
Further Measures: Curtains and Capacity Reduction
In 2014, the Panthers took additional steps to address attendance issues. Not only did they tarp off seats in the upper deck, but they also lowered black curtains to block off an entire end zone, effectively reducing the capacity to under 16,000.“This is one of the biggest arenas in the NHL, so we’re trying to make it a little smaller for most games,” then-team president Rory Babich explained. “We’ll have people in a smaller area, making it a more intimate experience. It’s not minor league at all; other arenas have done it. Instead of having empty seats in less desirable sections, we’ve decided to block them off.”
A Bleak Future: Attendance Struggles
During this period, the future of the Panthers in South Florida appeared uncertain, especially when they drew an announced crowd of just 11,419 for the 2014-15 home opener, followed by a mere 7,311 against the Senators in the next game.“Obviously, it’s not what you want to see in your home rink,” defenseman Erik Gudbranson remarked after that game. “The silence is noticeable.”
A Transformative Journey
However, the landscape has changed significantly since those challenging days. The Panthers have since experienced a resurgence, demonstrating the power of perseverance and the unwavering support of their fanbase. As the team looks toward the future, they are committed to building on this momentum and fostering a vibrant hockey culture in South Florida.