There are some changes coming to Amerant Bank Arena this season. In addition to a new Stanley Cup Championship banner hanging in the rafters, the Florida Panthers will have some upgrades for fans to enjoy when they come out to games this season. While plans for a revamped upper deck inside the 27-year-old venue were put on hold due to Florida making another deep run into the Stanley Cup Playoffs that had the arena in use until late June, there are other changes that have already been implemented. The biggest upgrade is coming to the scoreboard that hangs above center ice. Previously, the scoreboard known as ‘Big Red’ was installed in 2013. Now, 13 years later, the Cats are getting a brand new scoreboard, and it’s going to be ready for Opening Night. “Each year we research and implement new ways to improve and enhance our fan experience at Amerant Bank Arena and across all of our venues,” Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell said in a statement released by the team. “We are thrilled at what the new technology of this brand-new scoreboard will bring to our arena’s atmosphere and the ways it will engage our fans. We can’t wait for our fans to see the fully completed scoreboard in full use on Oct. 7 for our home opener.” That’s not all. In fact, the new scoreboard has already been installed, and fans attending this weekend’s Monster Jam will be the first to get a look at it. Here are the specs and deets on the new scoreboard, per the Panthers: “The project was led by long-time technology consultant Anthony James Partners (AJP), with ANC serving as the manufacturer and integrator for the venue’s new video displays. The highlight of the project is a new center-hung scoreboard featuring four 4mm LED screens, each measuring 38 feet wide by 31 feet high, joined to form a 360-degree digital canvas spanning 151 feet. The scoreboard delivers a total LED area of 4,762 square feet—an increase of 3,061 square feet and a 180% larger viewing area compared to the previous scoreboard.” But wait, there’s more. The Panthers are bringing additional upgrades to the viewing experience inside Amerant Bank Arena that will be ready for the upcoming season. They include two large screens underneath the scoreboard for fans sitting closer to the ice, a massive 75-foot LED halo that will hang suspended above the scoreboard and span 360 degrees around it, new LED ribbon boards that will circle the arena, another one on the club level that will be in a horseshoe shape, and more than a dozen new display screens that will be “strategically positioned to keep fans connected to every moment of play,” per the Panthers. Credit to the team for making sure that the product on the ice isn’t the only high-end feature that fans will be enjoying when they attend Panthers games this season. See you at the rink! LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Brad Marchand joined by Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon for Stanley Cup day in Nova Scotia [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/brad-marchand-joined-by-sidney-crosby-nathan-mackinnon-for-stanley-cup-day-in-nova-scotia] Panthers' Sam Bennett Controversially Lands On Contracts List [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-sam-bennett-controversially-lands-on-contracts-list] Panthers forward Jonah Gadjovich brings Stanley Cup to hometown rink in Whitby, Ontario [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-forward-jonah-gadjovich-brings-stanley-cup-to-hometown-rink-in-whitby-ontario] Former Panthers Defenseman Coming Out Of Retirement To Play In Finland [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/former-panthers-defenseman-coming-out-of-retirement-to-play-in-finland] Sam Bennett discusses amazing Stanley Cup season, from 4 Nations fighting to winning Conn Smythe [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/sam-bennett-discusses-amazing-stanley-cup-season-from-4-nations-fighting-to-winning-conn-smythe] Photo caption: Rendering of new Florida Panthers scoreboard inside Amerant Bank Arena. (Source: Florida Panthers)
