[troutman]

Panthers’ record-low attendance clouds hockey’s future in South Florida

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nh...le3073133.html

By the time the game ended — the Panthers lost 1-0 — the team had confirmed everyone’s suspicions: The number of tickets sold (7,311) was the fewest in franchise history, shattering the old record by 2,752. And the number of people actually in attendance was 1,000 or so fewer than that, according to estimates.

For the first time, the Panthers have stopped distributing free and discounted tickets to games, a strategy that boosted attendance significantly in past years but also, according to the owners, devalued the product and angered season-ticket holders.

That means small crowds could become the norm.

The sharp drop in fans — only 11,419 attended the home opener on a Saturday night against New Jersey — comes at the same time the Panthers have asked the Broward County Commission to give them a $78.4 million bailout — a break the team says it needs to curtail losses of $100,000 a day.

“We are not moving. We have no plans or intentions to move the team anywhere,” Panthers co-owner Doug Cifu said last week.

County Mayor Barbara Sharief said the team’s arena lease — which runs for another 14 seasons — does not include an “out” clause. But Commissioner Martin Kiar said the Panthers could leave at any time if they agree to cover their remaining debt payments, currently $63 million.


Florida Panthers’ owners vow to not move team (9/18/14)

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nh...le2147935.html