The Florida Panthers.

[The_Admiral]

Is it just me or is this franchise completely treading water? They haven't been to the playoffs since 2000, haven't won a series since the '96 Conference Finals. Other than Luongo, who is probably gettin' outta there this summer, they don't have any real big stars to speak of, other than Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts, who are probably near retirement. They're a distant 4th in the Miami sports pecking order. They don't even have the prime South Beach real estate that the Heat do; they're out near an expressway and a mall somewhere by Fort Lauderdale that goes through names like a baby goes through diapers. Mike Keenan is running the show, with Senators castoff Jacques Martin on the bench, but Keenan seems to wear out his welcome rather quickly. I just can't find any real upward mobility for this organization. I can't find downward mobility either, which is even more frustrating. They're just there.

[Roger Clemente]

I've always considering the Florida Panthers to also somewhat be just that team that's doing nothing more than mere existing. They aren't thoroughly sucking, but aren't really winning either. They have uninteresting uniforms that you can't really think of how to improve upon but at the same time don't thoroughly suck and a pretty tame logo, though useful in it's purpose.

I consider them to be the definition of meh, though I did root for them in the 1996 Cup Final.

--Roger "Time?" Clemente.

[CC97]

they're out near an expressway and a mall somewhere by Fort Lauderdale

well it's not just any mall... it's one of the largest malls in north america (2nd largest in the u.s. is what i heard)

[FiddySicks]

they're out near an expressway and a mall somewhere by Fort Lauderdale

well it's not just any mall... it's one of the largest malls in north america (2nd largest in the u.s. is what i heard)

Are you sure about that? I always thought the one in Wikiki Was #2 to MOA.

[Lee.]

This is where someone starts the inevitable, "Hockey doesn't balong in suoth Florida, tehy shuold move the team to Winnepeg for Hartfort where they had a team then lost it they deserve it more" argument.

You'll notice I've begun staying away from those morons.

[CC97]

they're out near an expressway and a mall somewhere by Fort Lauderdale

well it's not just any mall... it's one of the largest malls in north america (2nd largest in the u.s. is what i heard)

Are you sure about that? I always thought the one in Wikiki Was #2 to MOA.

I didn't say I was sure about it... I said 2nd largest is "what I heard"

[marlinfan]

They don't even have the prime South Beach real estate that the Heat do; they're out near an expressway and a mall somewhere by Fort Lauderdale that goes through names like a baby goes through diapers.

None of the other teams have real estate in Downtown Miami. People are still scratching (and shaking in some cases) their heads at how Mickey Arrison got that facility built. The City of Miami is THE WORST when it comes to negotiating with whe it comes to stadiums and sporting events. They drove the Dolphins away, the Orange Bowl, Panthers and just recently the Marlins.

Although the Bank Atlantic Center isn't on a sexy downtown site is it optimal for the spreadout elongated area that is the South Florida metropolitan area. The arena is at the center of an area that is 100 miles long and in some area as much as 25 miles wide.

The Panthers do not do ANY sort of marketing whatsoever.

I did a poll at my school for a history assignment and of the 445 people I asked, 53% said they didn't know we had a hockey team.

[marlinfan]

they're out near an expressway and a mall somewhere by Fort Lauderdale

well it's not just any mall... it's one of the largest malls in north america (2nd largest in the u.s. is what i heard)

Are you sure about that? I always thought the one in Wikiki Was #2 to MOA.

I didn't say I was sure about it... I said 2nd largest is "what I heard"

You are correct.

http://www.easternct.edu/depts/amerst/MallsLarge.htm

World's Largest: http://www.easternct.edu/depts/amerst/Malls.htm

[The_Admiral]

This is where someone starts the inevitable, "Hockey doesn't balong in suoth Florida, tehy shuold move the team to Winnepeg for Hartfort where they had a team then lost it they deserve it more" argument.

You'll notice I've begun staying away from those morons.

Hey, it's ICS Lite, all the flame-baiting with half the aggression

ANYWAY. No, I don't think the Panthers should move to Winnipeg. They aren't failing enough in Broward County, and therein lies the frustration. As much as you'd rather see the NHL in places where it would be welcomed and embraced, the Panthers have a nice arena and sufficient corporate support.

Oh by the way, Sawgrass Mills is just one of those bogus factory-outlet mega-malls. It's not even a real mall, like say, Woodfield. Fitting, because the Panthers are a slightly defective but generally presentable hockey club.

[NJTank]

Miami fans from what I have seen are fair weather fans too if the team stinks nobody goes. I remember some years when the Hurricanes were struggling in the late 90s the Orange Bowl was empty, and teh Dolphins are not a garunteed sell out every week if they struggle fans stay away too and those are the kings of Miami Sports.

[rmackman]

they're out near an expressway and a mall somewhere by Fort Lauderdale

well it's not just any mall... it's one of the largest malls in north america (2nd largest in the u.s. is what i heard)

It's the mall called Sawgrass Mills. It's pretty run down now, but it's an outlet mall so a lot of people still go. Mostly Brazilians or people on vacation. I don't think it's one of the largest malls in North America. It's big, but it is not as big as the Mall of the Americas in Minnesota, and I don't even think it's as big as the new Dolphin Mall in Miami. What they say on their site is:

Sawgrass Mills, Florida's largest retail & entertainment center, features more than 350 name-brand stores and outlets like OFF 5th Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet; full-service restaurants like Cheesecake Factory; cinemas and high quality entertainment venues.

You can see the mall at Sawgrass Mills.

Anyways forget the mall. Part of the reason the Panthers moved to the city of Sunrise (which is just north of Ft. Lauderdale) is because at the old Miami Arena most of the fans were driving 45+ minutes to Miami to watch games. The reason being is that most of their fan base is from Broward County. The latin fans that go to the Marlins/Dolphins/Heat games don't go to hockey games. So they built an arena in the county that their fans live in. A lot of transplanted Canadians are in Broward also, so they go. On top of that, their practicie facility is in Coral Springs about 10 minutes from my house, which is also in Broward. South Florida is very spread out. I mean if you jump on the highway and go straight from West Palm to Miami is an hour drive, but there's a lot of traffic. If I want to go to a Heat game that starts at 8 pm, I'll leave my house, which is on the Broward/Palm Beach County line, at 5:30 pm because I know I'm going to be in traffic for a looooooong time. Panthers fans didn't like dealing with that, so now it's a short 20 minute drive for them, and the arena is right off the Sawgrass Expressway (I believe the mall was named after the expressway because there is a Sawgrass Middle School and a Sawgrass Ford dealership in the area as well).

So you have a lot of issues. Florida is REALLY spread out. You can walk anywhere you want in Toronto. I went from my hotel to the Air Canada Centre in 15 minutes, then walked over to the Chinatown area. If you're in downtown Miami it'll take you a few hours to get around on foot. There are a million other things to do in the area besides watch hockey (or baseball, or basketball). TV ratings are terrible here. People don't watch as much TV in South Florida as they do in other areas. In fact they were talking about that on the radio this morning. People's interests here consist of sex, drinking, and money. They'll go to a sporting event if it becomes the cool thing to do. That's what Florida is...it's about trying to be a rock star and being cool. It's kind of unfortunate really.

I happen to love the Panthers logo though. It's great! I like the jerseys too if they'd go back to red as the primary. Definately better than the Lightning's unis so we at least win the Florida looks battle. The Cats are young, so you'll see them improve. They've had a lot of front office issues that are finally settling down. I think Luongo will come back and you'll see the team build up. Anyways that's my two cents...er...seventy five cents.

[HedleyLamarr]

Miami fans from what I have seen are fair weather fans too if the team stinks nobody goes. I remember some years when the Hurricanes were struggling in the late 90s the Orange Bowl was empty, and teh Dolphins are not a garunteed sell out every week if they struggle fans stay away too and those are the kings of Miami Sports.

Didn't you say, not too long ago, that the Panthers were a successful NHL franchise?

[HowBoutThemFins]

1. That's a damn good mall

2. Oli Jokinen is a hell of a player at last check. Not just Luongo and the 2 veterans mentioned.

3. How do the Panthers have their own building while the 2-time champion Marlins are searching out of state? Boggles me mind, it does.

[The_Admiral]

People's interests here consist of sex, drinking, and money. They'll go to a sporting event if it becomes the cool thing to do. That's what Florida is...it's about trying to be a rock star and being cool.

That's not the worst thing in the world, though. But anyway, the Panthers are the most stagnant organization in the league. They could disappear tomorrow and I don't think many people would lose much sleep over it, if they even noticed.

[Lee.]

This is where someone starts the inevitable, "Hockey doesn't balong in suoth Florida, tehy shuold move the team to Winnepeg for Hartfort where they had a team then lost it they deserve it more" argument.

You'll notice I've begun staying away from those morons.

Hey, it's ICS Lite, all the flame-baiting with half the aggression

Compared to ICS, fool, ANYTHING looks "Light".

If you're gonna be a dick, at least try to be good at it, willya?

[NJTank]

Miami fans from what I have seen are fair weather fans too if the  team stinks nobody goes. I remember some years when the Hurricanes were struggling in the late 90s the Orange Bowl was empty, and teh Dolphins are not a garunteed sell out every week if they struggle fans stay away too and those are the kings of Miami Sports.

Didn't you say, not too long ago, that the Panthers were a successful NHL franchise?

The Panthers have had success when they were winning they were packing the building.

[HedleyLamarr]

Miami fans from what I have seen are fair weather fans too if the  team stinks nobody goes. I remember some years when the Hurricanes were struggling in the late 90s the Orange Bowl was empty, and teh Dolphins are not a garunteed sell out every week if they struggle fans stay away too and those are the kings of Miami Sports.

Didn't you say, not too long ago, that the Panthers were a successful NHL franchise?

The Panthers have had success when they were winning they were packing the building.

How many seasons have the Panthers been winning?

[The_Admiral]

Anybody can pack the building when they're winning, especially in Miami. It's how you draw when you're not winning that matters, which in the case of the Panthers, is an awful lot of the time.

[FiddySicks]

People's interests here consist of sex, drinking, and money.  They'll go to a sporting event if it becomes the cool thing to do.  That's what Florida is...it's about trying to be a rock star and being cool.

Heh, sounds a lot like Southern California.

[FiddySicks]

This is where someone starts the inevitable, "Hockey doesn't balong in suoth Florida, tehy shuold move the team to Winnepeg for Hartfort where they had a team then lost it they deserve it more" argument.

You'll notice I've begun staying away from those morons.

Hey, it's ICS Lite, all the flame-baiting with half the aggression

Compared to ICS, fool, ANYTHING looks "Light".

If you're gonna be a dick, at least try to be good at it, willya?

I guess its better than being JamesCraven Dark...