"I clearly do not understand why people don’t attend more hockey games at the Bank Atlantic Center. The parking is easy, the fans are friendly, the mascots are hilarious, they have good fan giveaways and even the BOVA Ice Dancers are fun. They seriously should have to be able to skate, like the girls in Tampa, but who am I too complain. They even had a curling promo for the new curling leagues forming at the Panthers practice facility. I suppose people could complain about the drive from Fort Lauderdale, but it really is easy to get too. The team sucks? It didn’t look like it last night, course this Flyer team also makes backup, unknown goaltenders look like future hall of famers, so who am I to judge?"
HockeyOutsiders' Jason with a beautiful writeup on his experience at Wednesday's Panthers-Flyers game in Sunrise, via Broad Street Hockey.
almost 2 years ago
Donny Rivette
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That is precisely all that is missing.
by Donny Rivette on Mar 4, 2010 10:47 PM EST up reply actions
Going to Panthers game is a fun night out — even my girlfriend, who isn’t exactly sports mad — has made the effort of going to a game without me because she enjoyed it the first time I dragged her!
And the fact that they don’t charge for parking really makes a difference to me and encourages me to come to more games.
However, and this is the case with Joe Robbie Stadium too, it is in the middle of nowhere. It may be a fairly easy drive in terms of traffic, but there’s still nothing else to do once you get there! I think when you’re in a city such as Miami, with SO much more to do in your leisure time, sticking a sports arena out on its own is only going to draw hardcore fans and not thousands more casual fans.
Plus, as has already been mentioned, it doesn’t help that the team always loses :(
P.S. There’s a new curling league?? I never heard about that!
There’s nothing else to do once you get there? There’s Sawgrass Mills and all of its entertainment options. Really though, what else are you looking to do besides go to a sporting event there?
You know, like bars and stuff. I don’t know the area at all since I’m not from Miami (my girlfriend drives & we have to use the GPS), so if there’s nearby attractions fair enough.
But from my experience of going to other sports arenas around North America and Europe, if it’s downtown or in a centralised area it’s going to attract more punters. In Vancouver it’s just a quick stroll from the main strip. You know, like if BAC was on South Beach (I know that’s not realistic, but I’m talking hypothetical).
Meh, I guess I’m just used to England and not the Florida ‘drive everywhere, even the supermarket’ lifestyle!
Yeah, welcome to suburban hell. I much prefer the walkable with public transportation cities like New York, London & Boston as well, but sometimes you end up in South Florida. :) I have a friend from England who’s been here for 20 years and he still can’t believe the produce they sell in the supermarket here. I told him where some of the farmer’s/organic markets are.
Anyway, there are some places around the BAC. If you’re willing to drive a little, I think your options are actually better than downtown Miami around the AAA. The Quarterdeck on Sunrise is a bar/restaurant type joint on Sunrise. I never go there, but I know there are some Panthers fans who do. There are a couple of good restaurants out on Weston Rd. There’s a great Pakistani place on Oakland Park at Pine Island. Umm… There’s the mall, but I try to avoid it. Especially if it’s a Habs game, because the food court fills up with Habs fans.
I’d hate to see the arena on South Beach, but downtown Ft. Lauderdale wouldn’t be so bad.
Florida Panthers: Giving the league a punching bag since 2000.
I’ve heard the same about Sunrise Quarterdeck; sounds like they cater to Cats fans.
Unfortunately, the Quarterdeck in Palm Beach Gardens has no such desire.
by Donny Rivette on Mar 8, 2010 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
55 | 27 | 17 | 11 | 65 |
|
Washington
|
56 | 28 | 23 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
57 | 26 | 25 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
55 | 24 | 25 | 6 | 54 |
|
Carolina
|
57 | 21 | 25 | 11 | 53 |
(updated 2.13.2012 at 10:29 PM EST)
Eastern Standings
| GP | W-L-OT | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
New York Rangers
|
54 | 36-13-5 | 77 |
|
Boston Bruins
|
53 | 34-17-2 | 70 |
|
Florida Panthers
|
55 | 27-17-11 | 65 |
|
Philadelphia Flyers
|
56 | 31-18-7 | 69 |
|
Pittsburgh Penguins
|
56 | 32-19-5 | 69 |
|
New Jersey Devils
|
55 | 31-20-4 | 66 |
|
Ottawa Senators
|
58 | 28-22-8 | 64 |
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
56 | 28-22-6 | 62 |
|
Washington Capitals
|
55 | 28-22-5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg Jets
|
57 | 26-25-6 | 58 |
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
56 | 23-24-9 | 55 |
|
Tampa Bay Lightning
|
55 | 24-25-6 | 54 |
|
New York Islanders
|
55 | 23-24-8 | 54 |
|
Buffalo Sabres
|
55 | 24-25-6 | 54 |
|
Carolina Hurricanes
|
56 | 20-25-11 | 51 |
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