Florida Panthers Arena

The Florida Panthers are an NHL team based in the Miami area, playing in the Atlantic Division. They began at Miami Arena and moved to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise in 1998. They are the NHL’s southernmost team. Since 1996, their games have been shown on Bally Sports Florida.

The Panthers started in 1993–94, setting a record for points by a new team. They are affiliated with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) and Florida Everblades (ECHL). They reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996 and 2023 but had limited playoff success from 1996 to 2020. In 2022, they won a playoff series for the first time in 26 years and made another Finals run in 2023.

What is the name of the Florida Panthers Arena?

The Florida Panthers play at the Amerant Bank Arena, located in Sunrise, Florida, as per the official website of the NHL.

The BB&T Center, also known as FLA Live Arena, is situated in Sunrise, Florida, approximately 30 miles north of downtown Miami. It serves as the home arena for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The arena opened its doors in 1998 and has since been a focal point for sports and entertainment in South Florida.

In addition to its entertainment offerings, the BB&T Center boasts a wide array of food and beverage options to cater to different tastes and preferences. From classic Arena fare like burgers and hot dogs to speciality items and gourmet options, there's something for everyone to enjoy during events.

Florida Panthers Arena History/Florida Panthers Arena Construction and Cost

The Florida Panthers originally played at the Miami Arena after the team was founded in 1992. This venue was shared with the Miami Heat. Plans for a dedicated arena began in 1995 when Sunrise City Manager Pat Salerno proposed a $167 million financing and construction plan for a new civic center near the Sawgrass Expressway. Broward County approved the construction in February 1996. The Panthers selected the site in June 1996, and architects Ellerbe Becket were given 26 months to complete the project by August 30, 1998.

Construction required 2.3 million man-hours and involved over fifty subcontractors. There were no reported injuries during the entire building process. The arena was originally called the Broward County Civic Center during construction. In July 1998, National Car Rental acquired naming rights, and it opened as the National Car Rental Center in October 1998. Celine Dion performed the opening concert on October 3, followed by Elton John the next day. The Panthers played their first home game there on October 9, 1998, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4–1.

In 2002, the arena was renamed the Office Depot Center. In 2005, it became the BankAtlantic Center. After BB&T bought BankAtlantic in 2012, it was renamed BB&T Center. A premium lounge, Club Red (now Amerant Vault), was installed in 2012. A new scoreboard was approved by Broward County in 2013 and debuted that October.

BB&T later merged with SunTrust to form Truist Financial. Truist chose not to renew naming rights, and the venue was called FLA Live Arena starting in 2021. On September 19, 2023, Amerant Bank became the naming partner, and the arena was renamed Amerant Bank Arena. It is now the largest arena in Florida.

Florida Panthers Arena Capacity

The Florida Panthers play at Amerant Bank Arena. Its seating capacity varies by event type. For hockey games, the arena holds 19,250 spectators. For basketball, the capacity is 20,737. End-stage concerts can seat between 12,500 and 19,000 attendees, while center-stage concerts accommodate up to 19,500. The arena also features 17,000 square feet of floor space for trade shows, circuses, and ice shows.

Florida Panthers Arena Seating Chart

The Amerant Bank Arena, formerly known as the FLA Live Arena, is the home Arena of the Florida Panthers. It offers a variety of seating options, including premium seating areas like the Lexus Club, Corona Beach House, Club Center and End, and Lord Stanley's Loft. The arena provides excellent views from various sections, with the best seats typically located at center ice in sections 117-119, 101-102, and 134. The Florida Panthers' team bench is in front of section 102, while the visitors' bench is in front of section 134. The arena also offers handicapped and ADA seating options, with accessible rows at the top of most sections.

What is the parking cost at the Florida Panthers Arena? /Parking Map

Parking costs at Amerant Bank Arena for Florida Panthers games in 2025 vary by game date. Early-round playoff games range from $35 to $39. As the playoffs progress, prices increase significantly. In late May and June, parking ranges from $107 to $165. The highest listed price is $165 on June 24, 2025.

Florida Panthers Arena Notable Events

The Florida Panthers' home arena, Amerant Bank Arena, hosted the 2001 and 2015 NHL Entry Drafts, the 2003 and 2023 NHL All-Star Games, and multiple Stanley Cup Final games, including Game 7 in 2024 when the Panthers won their first Cup. The 2021 All-Star Game was scheduled but canceled due to the pandemic.

In combat sports, it has held Strikeforce, UFC, and EliteXC events. UFC returned in 2019 after a seven-year gap. In 2023, it hosted a Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. John Gotti III exhibition boxing match. In wrestling, the arena has held events from WCW, WWF/WWE, and AEW from 1998 to 2024, including major PPVs like Armageddon and weekly shows like Raw and SmackDown.

Political events included rallies by Barack Obama in 2008, Donald Trump in 2016 and 2019, and a CNN town hall on gun control in 2018. The venue also hosted rapper XXXTentacion’s public funeral in 2018.

Read more: Florida Panthers Schedule