Who says Florida isn't made for hockey?
For the fifth consecutive year, a team based out of Florida is in the Stanley Cup Final. After the Lightning came out of the Eastern Conference for the last three consecutive years, 2024 marks the Panthers' second turn in a row, as the sunshine state is set to compete in this year's Stanley Cup Final.
This is only the third time in club history that Florida is making an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, and the team's success story has South Florida buzzing for hockey.
MORE: Why do Panthers fans throw rats on the ice?
But where exactly are the Panthers from? The Sporting News has fans covered on where Florida plays out and more to know about the club.
Where do the Florida Panthers play?
- Arena: Amerant Bank Arena
- Location: Sunrise, Fla.
The Panthers play out of Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. The arena was built in 1998 and has been the home of the Florida NHL club since the 1998-99 season.
The arena has gone through a plethora of names, including the National Car Rental Center, Office Depot Center, BankAtlantic Center, the BB&T Center, and most recently, FLA Live Arena.
Where is Sunrise, Fla?
Sunrise is a city in Broward County, located about 30 miles north of Miami. It is considered a part of the Miami metropolitan area.
The Panthers are the only professional sports team located in Sunrise.
Amerant BankArena capacity
Amerant Bank Arena carries a capacity of 19,250 for hockey games.
It is one of the larger rinks in the NHL in terms of capacity. The arena ranks seventh in the NHL in total seating available.
Do the Panthers and Heat play at the same arena?
No, the Panthers and the Heat do not play in the same arena. While there are plenty of cities that have basketball and hockey teams that share a facility together, that isn't the case in South Florida.
The Heat play at the Kaseya Center, which was named the American Airlines Center for a number of years until a change came in 2020. It is located in Miami.
The arena does have an NHL-size rink, however, it has never been used for hockey before. Instead, the surface is used more commonly for ice shows, such as Disney on Ice.
The Panthers and Heat used to share an arena together. Both NHL and NBA clubs played at the old Miami Arena from 1993 to 1998 before both franchises relocated to different facilities.
