Who would have thunk it....the Florida Panthers now have a waiting list for season tickets!

[pb1300]

A friend of mine just renewed their seats for the 25th consecutive season, and they told me that there is currently a waiting list for new season ticket owners.

Take it with a grain of salt, ridicule the organization all you want for the prices, compared to other traditional markets, but this is quite remarkable, considering the state of the team just a few seasons ago.

Of course this is South Florida, so they will need to continue their on ice play, in order to keep the seats filled, but its great to see this for an organization that was given away tickets in 7 Eleven, for nothing.

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[Chips]

RELOCATE THEM



But yea no every big enough city can have a great fan base. People blame locals for shit team management
Even the coyotes filled an arena in the playoffs way back. It’s the an entertainment business, people won’t spend money to watch garbage

Good for the Panthers finally kick starting stuff. One of the more fun teams

 

[pb1300]

RELOCATE THEM



But yea no every big enough city can have a great fan base. People blame locals for shit team management
Even the coyotes filled an arena in the playoffs way back. It’s not the an entertainment business, people won’t spend money to watch garbage

Good for the Panthers finally kick starting stuff. One of the more fun teams

That is exactly it.

Even for the Miami Dolphins, if they are not winning, you will see it in attendance. You HAVE to be a winning organization, in order to attract the fans in South Florida.

For the Panthers though, the fans were always there. Even when I was a season ticket holder from 2000-2010, the fans would show up to that gong show.

Now that the team has a bit more success, and seems to have a competent owner and management team, the rights steps were taken to keep those fans coming out, as well as add a lot more to the family.

 

[Killer Orcas]

Surprised for sure but great for the game to see a very non traditional market succeeding. Panthers are fun to watch for sure I see the allure right now.

 

[ijuka]

The team doing well helps with fanbase interest. The pricing strategy is also effective.

 

[DearDiary]

They're not sold out. It's a waitlist that require a deposit to choose the seats you want. Everyone gets to buy tickets after the priority list chooses

 

[bringbacktheskate604]

A friend of mine just renewed their seats for the 25th consecutive season, and they told me that there is currently a waiting list for new season ticket owners.

Take it with a grain of salt, ridicule the organization all you want for the prices, compared to other traditional markets, but this is quite remarkable, considering the state of the team just a few seasons ago.

Of course this is South Florida, so they will need to continue their on ice play, in order to keep the seats filled, but its great to see this for an organization that was given away tickets in 7 Eleven, for nothing.

I know as a Canadian I know I'm supposed to shit all over Gary for his mass US expansion, no Quebec team, COVID, the Hindenburg and the extinction of dinosaurs but he's the reason the league didn't turn in to the CFL. People mocked the Florida teams, Nashville, North Carolina etc but all are fantastic fanbases and there's numerous cities begging to pay staggering amounts of money to get a franchise. Sorry got sidetracked, awesome to see you guys see

 

[pb1300]

I know as a Canadian I know I'm supposed to shit all over Gary for his mass US expansion, no Quebec team, COVID, the Hindenburg and the extinction of dinosaurs but he's the reason the league didn't turn in to the CFL. People mocked the Florida teams, Nashville, North Carolina etc but all are fantastic fanbases and there's numerous cities begging to pay staggering amounts of money to get a franchise. Sorry got sidetracked, awesome to see you guys see

Over 17k on a weeday game against the Coyotes tells me all I need to know about the rise in attendance.

 

[Laus723]

Ownership matters. Previous ownership wanted to build a casino and hotels on the land to help fund the team, they were told no every time and decided to put an internal cap on the team. They charged the players for food, jerseys, and all kinds of nonsense. They couldn’t get out of their own way and pushed a fanbase away that filled Miami Arena and had a hunger for the game. Current owners have invested in the team, the community, did away with stupid ticket giveaways and took on the chin as they rebuilt the team and its fanbase. They also learn from their mistakes and don’t double down when they realize things don’t work.

It’s incredible that they, management, Zito, and the players are getting rewarded with ticket sales. I’ve always said, there’s only room for one Mickey Mouse organization in Florida, and Orlando already had it. These guys get it, and people are recognizing that.

 

[BB79]

Amazing what a trip to the Final can do for a franchise.

 

[Chainshot]

A friend of mine just renewed their seats for the 25th consecutive season, and they told me that there is currently a waiting list for new season ticket owners.

Take it with a grain of salt, ridicule the organization all you want for the prices, compared to other traditional markets, but this is quite remarkable, considering the state of the team just a few seasons ago.

Of course this is South Florida, so they will need to continue their on ice play, in order to keep the seats filled, but its great to see this for an organization that was given away tickets in 7 Eleven, for nothing.

It shows that winning is the best marketing.

 

[Colezuki]

Not really surprised, fair weather Florida fans but they’ve never been a real concern for leaving have they? It’s always been Arizona as the problem child alongside atlanta

Edit to clarify, Florida fans do show up, and there are loyal fans but Florida it’s just when time are bad they sell out but when times are good they will.

 

[Laus723]

Not really surprised, fair weather Florida fans but they’ve never been a real concern for leaving have they? It’s always been Arizona as the problem child alongside atlanta

Edit to clarify, Florida fans do show up, and there are loyal fans but Florida it’s just when time are bad they sell out but when times are good they will.

What? No, most fanbases are this way. Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boston, NYI…winning solves attendance problems, always. Florida also has the biggest mix of fans of multiple teams in any league. I’ve sat next to guys who wear Panther stuff until Toronto/Montreal/Boston/Rangers/etc shows up and they’re cheering against the Panthers. How many places does that happen??

And no, we were never in danger of being moved. We just went from one of the worst owners in the League to one of the best.

 

[TageGod]

You're welcome. We gave you Rhino.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Good work, expansion cousins

 

[Panteras]

Bill Zito is the single greatest thing to ever happen to this franchise. And of course a willing and able ownership that had the desire to turn this into a world class franchise. It helps and motives players when they see management care and provide them with whatever they need. Just look at the new skating facility they built. Any player would be eager to give it their all when their team is investing in them. Everything is connected. And the attendance is a result of the effort that’s been put in the last couple of years. I hope that it culminates with Barky lifting the cup. Would be amazing.

 

[cowboy82nd]

A friend of mine just renewed their seats for the 25th consecutive season, and they told me that there is currently a waiting list for new season ticket owners.

Take it with a grain of salt, ridicule the organization all you want for the prices, compared to other traditional markets, but this is quite remarkable, considering the state of the team just a few seasons ago.

Of course this is South Florida, so they will need to continue their on ice play, in order to keep the seats filled, but its great to see this for an organization that was given away tickets in 7 Eleven, for nothing.

That is a lie. You had to buy a slurpee first.

 

[Laus723]

You're welcome. We gave you Rhino.

We paid quite a bit for Reino, but he’s been well worth the cost. I’m sure Levi will continue to develop and do well for Buffalo.

 

[Madap]

Good job Florida. Definitely one of the more fun teams to watch in the league. Probably because half their team is a POS but they play a fast and hard brand of hockey which is great to watch.

 

[Leonardo87]

Good for them. I‘m always happy to see a smaller market team succeed. They are contending now, and people are into the game now. My only complaint bring back the old Panther logo, that was a cool logo.

 

[Boud]

People make a big deal of attendance figures on bad teams but that's just the way it works for 90% of markets after a few years at the bottom.

When the team is good the arena fills up. When the team is bad people tend to spend their money elsewhere. People trash last place teams for their attendance are honestly idiots. Only Montreal, Toronto and a few other markets can keep filling up arenas even when they're bad.

I mean looking at this year only these are the worst attendance teams (other than Arizona):

San Jose - 79% capacity
Buffalo - 85% capacity
Winnipeg - 86% capacity
NYI - 86% capacity
Anaheim - 90% capacity
New Jersey - 90% capacity
Calgary - 91% capacity
Columbus - 92% capacity
Philadelphia - 93% capacity
Washington - 95% capacity
Detroit - 95% capacity

Some of these markets are amongst the best in the NHL.

With the way the economy is going and the way these teams are (mostly) out of the playoffs, it's only normal that someone will decide to spend their hard earned money elsewhere. If I'm in Florida and the team is playing horrible, would I rather spend 30$ on a BBQ at home with friends and family with the game in the background or would I rather shed 100$++ on tickets, food, beers, parking and etc.

When teams win pretty much all markets thrive. Even original 6 teams like Detroit are not immune to that and they're not even playing that bad. Calgary, Philly and Buffalo are huge hockey markets and it's the same thing for them.

 

[Deadly Dogma]

sweet!!!!, had a feeling the boom in the Florida economy would reach the NHL teams

 

[Deadly Dogma]

People make a big deal of attendance figures on bad teams but that's just the way it works for 90% of markets after a few years at the bottom.

When the team is good the arena fills up. When the team is bad people tend to spend their money elsewhere. People trash last place teams for their attendance are honestly idiots. Only Montreal, Toronto and a few other markets can keep filling up arenas even when they're bad.

I mean looking at this year only these are the worst attendance teams (other than Arizona):

San Jose - 79% capacity
Buffalo - 85% capacity
Winnipeg - 86% capacity
NYI - 86% capacity
Anaheim - 90% capacity
New Jersey - 90% capacity
Calgary - 91% capacity
Columbus - 92% capacity
Philadelphia - 93% capacity
Washington - 95% capacity
Detroit - 95% capacity

Some of these cities are some of the best markets in the NHL.

With the way the economy is going and the way these teams are (mostly) out of the playoffs, it's only normal that someone will decide to spend their hard earned money elsewhere. If I'm in Florida and the team is playing horrible, would I rather spend 30$ on a BBQ at home with friends and family with the game in the background or would I rather shed 100$++ on tickets, food, beers, parking and etc.

When teams win pretty much all markets thrive. Even original 6 teams like Detroit are not immune to that and they're not even playing that bad. Calgary, Philly and Buffalo are huge hockey markets and it's the same thing for them.

outside of Cal and Winnipeg, every other team is in an area where people are leaving for Florida or Texas.
It was always just a matter of time until we saw it affect the broader economy in those places.

 

[Boud]

outside of Cal and Winnipeg, every other team is in an area where people are leaving for Florida or Texas.
It was always just a matter of time until we saw it affect the broader economy in those places.

To be fair I'm Canadian and while you're most likely right that there's a lot of snowbirds coming from the northern states, there's a LOT of Canadians who head to Florida in the winters. Other than Vancouver I see a lot of snowbirds from Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Winnipeg in Florida/Tampa area.

 

[Raspewtin]

Not really surprised, fair weather Florida fans but they’ve never been a real concern for leaving have they? It’s always been Arizona as the problem child alongside atlanta

Edit to clarify, Florida fans do show up, and there are loyal fans but Florida it’s just when time are bad they sell out but when times are good they will.

what if I told you outside of NYR, Montreal, Toronto, and maybe Boston this applies to literally every fanbase?