In any sport, you look forward to playing at your home venue. Being the home team offers many advantage; comfortability, no jet lag, a crowd that gets behind you… or at least that’s what the expectation is. But on October 13th, 2014, the Florida Panthers didn’t enjoy much of a home ice advantage; in fact, they played in front of the smallest crowd in franchise history. Poor, poor Panthers.
The Florida Panthers organization is in trouble.
They’re basically broke, they’ve won just three playoff series’ since their inaugural NHL season in 1993-94. Not only did they set a franchise low in attendance, they also set the record for smallest attendance in a home opener this season. A year ago, they finished 29th out of 30 teams. It doesn’t help that the team they lost to Monday night was from Ottawa attracting many Canadian media outlets to the abysmal attendance the Panthers are producing.
But what are the Panthers supposed to do? They’ve brought in new talent, the team is under new ownership… maybe it’s time we all accept the fact that Florida doesn’t have a huge hockey market and fan base; aside from Tampa Bay, there may not be room for another Florida team.
https://twitter.com/TravisSBN/status/521813864233848832
Game time #Sens #Panthers pic.twitter.com/WR0Vwb2l0H
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) October 13, 2014
It’s hard to swallow for some, but it’s reality; the Panthers aren’t profitable and there are other cities where they could thrive. The average attendance for an NHL game is more than 17,000 fans, with almost half of the NHL teams averaging sellouts. Last season, the Florida Panthers ranked last in average percentage of arena filled at 75.5%. That’s not good enough.
7,311 for Sens at Panthers tonight. And that number seems generous, given the pictures I saw. Not good.
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) October 14, 2014
It’s a tough way to start a season. In two homes games, they’ve set two franchise records for lowest attendance’s. How can we expect it to get any better? How can we take the seriously the owners statements that indicate a winning season and a Stanley Cup run? I’m sorry, but a Stanley Cup run doesn’t happen when you can’t fill your arena. There are plenty of cities that would fill an arena, and after a bad, embarrassing start for the Florida Panthers, something has got to change. This isn’t just a bad night for Panther fans, it’s a sad night for hockey fans.
Loyalty is best earned on the back of virtue, honor and integrity. Together, we climb. Thanks to all who came. #FlaPanthers
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) October 14, 2014
And the thing is, it is a beautiful arena but too far outside of Miami. The only time they draw is when the other team’s fans that are prevalent in the South Florida area scoop up all of the seats (ie Wings, Rangers, Canadians, Leafs). This is a Bettman deal, just like Atlanta it will fail, Meanwhile, cities that want hockey like Portland or Seattle or Hamilton and two that supported it in the past, Quebec and Hartford, get screwed.
The Snow-birds haven’t arrived from Canada yet.. If the team can get in some decent performance by then, then ticket sales will start going up by November.
That’s just it though Shark; if ticket sales start out at record lows, it’ll take record highs to make up the difference and that’s just not going to happen. And that’s IF they can find ways to win, which I’m skeptical of.
Hockey fans all over the continent were skeptical about Florida being awarded not one ,but TWO NHL franchises,in the “sunshine State”. The league must have gotten some very bad advice from some number crunchers who could only see the large population of the area,while ignoring the demographics and sports history of the city.
If Gary Bettman can get over his anti- smaller Canadian city bias,he will recognize that hockey fans in every Canadian city will fill the arenas, and allow the Panthers franchise to move to a city that cares about hockey.
I couldn’t agree more with you Don.