Fort Lauderdale practice facility now expected to be ready by late 2023
There is a lot to be excited about around the Florida Panthers.
The team is about to begin its fourth straight season in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it will soon be opening a brand new, multi-surface practice facility in Fort Lauderdale and the overall outlook of the franchise and its potential success in the coming years couldn’t be higher.
Earlier this week, Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell provided an update on some significant elements of the franchise’s future, both on and off the ice.
But first, he acknowledged the accomplishments of what the team has done and reflected on the progress that’s been made under his watchful eye.
“I'm so proud of the group,” Caldwell said. “Fourth straight year in the playoffs, unprecedented for this franchise. We've come a long way.”
Indeed. When this ownership group took over in 2013, the franchise had reached the postseason just one time since the year 2000. They’d only make it once over the next seven years.
But times, they are a-changin’.
Not only have the Panthers become a respected, and in some ways a feared opponent in the Eastern Conference, they’re built to remain a force in the East for years to come.
“We wanted to make sure we got it right, got the right mix of leadership, GM, coach, players,” Caldwell explained. “We feel really solidified now. We have a young core that is signed long-term, obviously (Sasha Barkov) and (Matthew) Tkachuk are at the head of that, having monstrous years. We have that stability now, and we want to stick with this team and keep growing.”
Outside of the ongoing season, one thing that has been on the minds of many in South Florida is the new practice facility the Panthers are building at the site of the old War Memorial in the heart of Fort Lauderdale.
The Panthers, and their fans, have been patiently waiting for the state-of-the-art facility since ground was first broken in April of 2021.
Of course, that happened during a global pandemic, which presented non-traditional obstacles, like supply chain issues, that hindered progress at times.
“Construction is always tough,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell said the hope is that the new facility will be ready to open in late 2023.
It won’t be ready for Panthers training camp in September, though.
“I wish we could,” Caldwell admitted. “The players are all over me.”
When it’s ready, the new practice facility will offer high-end amenities for the team and visitors alike.
There will also be a concert and entertainment venue, indoor and outdoor dining options, community recreation and fitness programs, and more.
“It’s the number one question I get, but it’s a positive,” Caldwell said. “People are asking more from excitement and positivity, but it’s coming. The community is real excited.”
It’s one of many examples showing the commitment of the Panthers ownership group.
The financial investments have stretched far beyond the team on the ice.
“We're investing in the arena,” Caldwell said. “We have new sports lights this year, new HVACs, those things are a little behind the scenes. But the owners are completely all-in, and we can see it, with the fans and the partners all behind us.”
Another element of the business side of the team that has been hanging in limbo is a corporate naming partner for its home arena.
The Sunrise venue the Panthers call home has been dubbed FLA Live Arena since 2021.
That’s when the building’s naming rights deal with BB&T, which had since merged with SunTrust Banks to form the Truist Financial Corporation, came to an end.
The team has been searching for a new naming rights partner for the arena ever since.
They have been working with media and talent agency Endeavor, and there is hope that a new deal will be in place in the next several months.
“We have a few opportunities, but we’ll definitely have something for next year,” Caldwell said.
Speaking of next season, the Panthers well reach a major milestone in 2023-24 as it will be the franchise’s 30th year in the National Hockey League.
There will obviously be a lot of recognition and fanfare to go with the big birthday season.
There will not, however, be a new alternate jersey to mark the occasion. That isn’t just a Panthers thing, though.
The NHL is now working with Fanatics to provide on-ice jerseys, but the deal doesn’t kick in until the 2024-25 season. That being the case, the status quo will likely remain in place for now.
“We'll be announcing a number of things this offseason,” Caldwell said. “We are switching jersey providers, I think you've seen that with the NHL, so there won't be a lot of new jerseys across the whole league for a year or two.”
That news will come as a disappointment to those who enjoy snagging the latest in hockey sweater fashion, but at least the Panthers get to go out on a high.
It will be hard to top the blue Reverse Retro jerseys from this season. They made quite a statement and were universally loved, definitely the off-ice story of the season.
For the team on the ice, there is a grand opportunity in front of them to make a bold statement of their own.
They’re preparing to face the historically good Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Reaching the postseason was a fun milestone to reach, but it’s far from the goal.
The Panthers appear to be peaking at just the right time. Now we’ll find out if the South Florida Davids can take down the Beantown Goliaths.
“You never know when you're going to make your run,” Caldwell said. “There's so much that can happen in the playoffs.”
Game One is Monday from TD Garden in Downtown Boston.