Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk speaks after Florida's 5-3 win in Tampa Bay on April 26. The Florida Panthers are moving on to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Before they get started in round two, let’s take a moment to appreciate the impressive attendance numbers Cats fans put up during their five-game victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now we’ve all heard the jokes about the Panthers and their six fans, the comments about empty seats, and there’s always someone quick to say that Florida doesn’t deserve a team when places like Quebec City and Atlanta don’t have one. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] Capacity at Amerant Bank Arena for ice hockey is 19,250. That’s the highest for any of the buildings being used in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year. Through three home games, the Panthers are averaging 19,530 fans per game [https://www.hockey-reference.com/friv/attendance.cgi], per Hockey Reference. No playoff team is averaging more fans per home game. The next highest is Toronto, at 19,340. Florida's postseason attendance is also 101.5% of capacity at Amerant Bank Arena. As of games played on Tuesday, the only teams averaging a higher percentage are Vegas (105.3%), Toronto (102.8%), Nashville (102.4%) and Boston (101.6%), but even with the increase over capacity, none of them are averaging more fans per game than Florida. In case you were wondering, only two teams are averaging less than capacity crowds. They are Edmonton (98.4%) and Tampa Bay (99.4%). During the regular season, Florida had its best attendance numbers this millennium. The numbers have gone up in each of the past three seasons, going from 13,112 average fans per game in 2021-22 (the year after the COVID-shortened season), to 15,827 last season all the way up to 18,632 during the past campaign. That number represents 96.8% capacity. It was also the first time in decades that the Panthers cracked the top ten in NHL annual attendance, finishing ninth. As those of us familiar with South Florida sports fans know, consistent winning is the one and only thing that keeps those butts in seats. Just ask the NBA’s Miami Heat or MLB’s Miami Marlins, two teams on opposite ends of the success spectrum and as such, opposite ends of the attendance food chain. The Panthers have now qualified for the playoffs in five straight seasons. Their previous playoff streak was two: 1996 and 1997. They have also advanced past the first round in each of the past three years, making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final last June. We’ll see how long they can hold it, but for now, it’s clear the Panthers have the attention of local sports fans. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Several Panthers put up big numbers during first round victory over Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/several-panthers-put-up-big-numbers-during-first-round-victory-over-lightning] Panthers captain Sasha Barkov has career playoff night in series clincher against Tampa Bay [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/panthers-captain-sasha-barkov-has-career-playoff-night-in-series-clincher-against-tampa-bay] The Hockey Show: Quizzing fans outside Amalie Arena on Panthers and Lightning history [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/the-hockey-show-quizzing-fans-outside-amalie-arena-on-panthers-and-lightning-history] Three takeaways: Panthers leaders show up in big game, Maurice line moves pay off [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/three-takeaways-panthers-leaders-show-up-in-big-game-maurice-line-moves-pay-off] Panthers moving on, eliminating Tampa with 6-1 victory in Game 5 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-moving-on-eliminating-tampa-with-6-1-victory-in-game-5] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
