It was a perfect, sunny Sunday in Sunrise, which was good news for Florida Panthers fans.
That’s because the team held Pantherfest 2024 at Amerant Bank Arena, with much of the outdoor tarmac being utilized for the fun.
The event was invite-only for Territory Members, which is what the Panthers call their season seat owners.
Brought onto the tarmac were traditional carnival games, there were interactive sports booths, a snow cone station, floor hockey, music, face painting and lots more.
The cool thing for attendees was that the Panthers players were around the entire event, and not just sitting in a chair signing autographs either.
You could shoot water to blow up a ballon against Mackie Samoskevich before playing a little soccer with Anton Lundell or ball hockey with Carter Verhaeghe, and then have a chat with Spencer Knight while he helped prepare you a frozen treat.
There was also a face painting station, autograph sessions and a Q&A with fans and Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk.
It sure looked like a good time for all involved, especially the younger fans.
Roy Sonenshein
Currently, there are more Territory Members than ever before.
The Panthers announced before the season that the team had completely sold out of their season tickets for the first time in franchise history.
Last season, Florida sold out of all their lower level season seats, so it’s not terribly surprising to see what was left get scooped up after the team went out and won the Stanley Cup in June.
With that being the case, some fans said they encountered longer lines and couldn’t fit everything they wanted to do into the four hours that Pantherfest was held.
Roy Sonenshein
Overall, you have to hand it to the Panthers for putting on such a fun, friendly event for thousands of their fans.
It sure looked like everyone, players included, had a lot of fun inside and outside the arena on Sunday.
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