If you'd like to catch a National Hockey League game in person, Florida's BB&T Center can accomodate. After all, plenty of seats always seem to be available at this Sunrise-set arena. That said, maybe a string of winning seasons from the Florida Panthers can help improve the atmosphere of their Sunshine State digs.
Florida Panthers Stadium
After a brief stay at the simply monikered Miami Arena, the Florida Panthers ventured off to Sunrise with the BB&T Center serving as the team's home since 1998. The club's miracle Eastern Conference clinching season happened two years previous to the big move, so this arena has plenty of storybook space to add moments of triumph. Despite having stars like Pavel Bure, Roberto Luongo and Jay Bouwmeester calling this rink home, only two playoff seasons have been accomplished since moving in. The biggest bright spot at the BB&T Center for Florida? Jose Theodore blanking the New Jersey Devils 3-0 in Game 5 of their 2012 Conference Quarterfinal tilt.
Attendance has been a major issue at Sunrise's shiny playground. The Panthers finished dead last in the league in arena capacity in 2014-15, although it should be noted that the team's ownership have done away with heavily discounted tickets and giveaways in a bid to show respect to season ticket holders that shell out full price for ducats. Have the Panthers stunk in front of an under-filled arena? Nope! 21 of the team's 38 wins last season were racked up at the BB&T Center. Seeing as Florida showed some life in their run at the playoffs last spring, there's a chance imaginations could be sparked and tickets will be snapped up.
Arena Vitals
Date Opened: 1998
Construction Cost: $185 Million
Architect: Ellerbe Becket
Capacity Attendance: 19,250
Has A Stanley Cup Final Been Played There: No
Previous Florida Panthers Arenas
Miami Arena
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