It still surprises visitors that one of the hottest tickets in South Florida is played on ice, but the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup in 2024 and again in 2025, and a home game at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise has become one of Greater Fort Lauderdale's signature nights out. The arena sits on the western edge of the county, about half an hour from the beach, beside the Sawgrass Mills outlet complex, and the regular season runs from October into April, neatly covering the winter high season. The 2026 to 2027 schedule includes a long run of theme nights, from a Halloween game and Star Wars Night to holiday games in December, a Kids Day in February and Fan Appreciation in April, which shape the crowd and the giveaways. Single-game tickets are sold through the team's the venue's ticketing partner, and prices swing widely by opponent and date: weeknight games against non-rivals are the value play, while weekend and marquee matchups climb steeply. The building is fully air-conditioned, which makes a game a handy rainy or sweltering-day plan, and the atmosphere, plastic rats included, is something even non-hockey fans enjoy. Arrive early for warm-ups along the glass and leave time for the parking queues afterwards.
The team arrived in 1993 and spent years as an afterthought before a run of deep playoff seasons turned Sunrise into a hockey town. The plastic-rat tradition dates to the 1990s, when a player killed a rat in the dressing room and scored twice that night; fans have thrown toy rats onto the ice after big goals ever since. The championship banners are now the backdrop, and Sunrise has become the sport's spring address: the arena hosted Stanley Cup Final games three years running, in 2023, 2024 and 2025, with the Panthers winning the last two.
Practicalities
The arena, at 1 Panther Parkway, opened in 1998 and has worn a string of sponsor names, from the National Car Rental Center to the BB&T Center and FLA Live Arena, so older directions may use any of them. It seats a little over nineteen thousand for hockey and sits in Sunrise, near the Sawgrass Expressway and Interstate 595, so plan on driving or a rideshare from the beach and allowing extra time on game nights.
Parking is on site. Seats in the upper bowl give a good view of the whole rink at a fraction of glass prices, and the lower corners are the best compromise for families who want to be close. The team publishes theme nights and giveaways at the start of each season. Between home games the building books major concerts and UFC cards, and it has staged two NHL All-Star Games, including the 2003 edition that introduced the league's first official shootout.
Pairing
Make it a west-county day with Sawgrass Mills shopping in the afternoon or Flamingo Gardens and Butterfly World earlier on, then dinner near the arena. Visitors from cold climates often find a Florida hockey game a funny, memorable contrast to a day on the beach. The rink keeps the bowl cool, so bring a light layer even when it is ninety degrees outside.
What to expect
The experience
A regular-season NHL game at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, with in-arena entertainment, theme nights and giveaways on selected dates.
Best time
Weeknight games for value; theme nights for atmosphere. The regular season runs from October into April.
How long
About three hours including warm-ups, plus the drive.
Tips
Buy through the team's the venue's ticketing partner. Arrive early for warm-ups at the glass. Expect slow parking exits on sell-out nights.
Quick picks
- Best for
- An indoor night out with real local energy.
- Families
- Kids Day and holiday games are built for children; upper-bowl seats keep costs down.
- Couples
- A lively, different date night, especially for visitors from hockey country.
- Pair with
- Butterfly World or Flamingo Gardens earlier in the day out west.
- Time needed
- An evening.
Good questions
Where do the Panthers play?+
At Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, on the western side of Broward County, roughly half an hour from Fort Lauderdale Beach. The arena opened in 1998 and was previously known as the BB&T Center and FLA Live Arena.
When is the season?+
The regular season runs from October into April, with the 2026 to 2027 home opener on October 10.
How do I buy tickets?+
Through the team's the venue's ticketing partner, linked from the team's site. Prices vary widely by opponent and day of the week. Weeknight games against non-divisional opponents are usually the cheapest way in; avoid resale sites that add fees at checkout.
What are theme nights?+
Dates with special programming and giveaways, such as Halloween, Star Wars Night, holiday games, Kids Day and Fan Appreciation. The full list is published before the season starts, and giveaways are often limited, so arrive early on those dates.
Why do fans throw rats?+
It is a 1990s tradition from a night when a player killed a rat in the dressing room and then scored twice. Toy rats fly after big goals.
