Hockey is thriving in South Florida, and Gary Bettman loves it. ‘It's been fun to see'

Miami Herald

11-05-2025

South Florida's appetite for hockey is at an all-time high right now. The Florida Panthers' run of consistent success over the past handful of years, which reached a crescendo last year with the franchise winning its first Stanley Cup, plays a heavy part in that.
It's something NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was hopeful would become a reality.
Now, it is.
'I think it starts with two words: Vinnie Viola and the whole family,' Bettman said Friday from Amerant Bank Arena prior to Game 3 of the Panthers' second-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. 'The commitment that they've made to South Florida, to hockey, to this team, to the fans, has been nothing short of sensational. You see it in terms of the team's performance. You see it in terms of how this building is full now.'
The Panthers this season averaged a franchise-high 19,059 fans per home game, just shy of 100 percent capacity and more than 400 fans per game higher than last season. The total ranked fifth in the NHL behind only the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning, all of whom have slightly larger arenas.
Amerant Bank Arena have been over capacity throughout the playoffs so far, averaging 19,660 fans through the team's first three home playoff games entering Game 4 against Toronto on Sunday. Maximum capacity at Amerant Bank Arena is listed at 19,250.
Viola, who took over as owner in 2015, has done his part to make sure hockey had the potential to thrive in an unorthodox market like South Florida. In addition to opening up his wallet for anything the franchise needs to succeed in its day-to-day operations, the Panthers under Viola have done their part to impact the community, particularly through youth hockey initiatives.
'It's something that we always believed was possible for South Florida,' Bettman said. 'This was Wayne Huizenga's dream, and the Viola family has fulfilled it and continues to fulfill that. It's great to see. Hockey is growing here at all levels, particularly among youth hockey players. So it's been fun to see, and I'm happy for the fans. I'm happy for the players, and I'm happy for the Violas.'
And the team won't be leaving any time soon. The Broward County Commission voted unanimously in September to extend the team's Arena Operating Agreement through 2033, with options to continue it as far as 2043. This agreement impacts Amerant Bank Arena, the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale and the Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs.
'I think there'll continue to be a need to put money into the building, which they've done,' Bettman said of Amerant Bank Arena. 'The commitment that the Violas have made to this market, to Fort Lauderdale, with the War Memorial and the training facility, I'm delighted that the franchise is going to have long-term stability, and I'm delighted that it's here. ... This is a terrific building, great bones. It's a very good location that you can access easily. I think, long-term, everybody's focused on making sure the franchise has what it needs. The Violas, as I said, have been great. The county's been great. And so this is a good situation.'
So much so that the NHL is giving the Panthers the opportunity to host their first outdoor game next season. Florida will play the New York Rangers at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins, on Jan. 2.
'It's bold. It's audacious. It's an attempt to do something special for the fans in Florida,' Bettman said. 'Some people have suggested we're crazy, but I don't think we are. We believe between hockey operations and our ice makers we're going to provide a great environment for a game. And we have the benefit, particularly with the ballpark in Miami, to keep the roof closed while we make the ice, we play the game at night, and we'll open it in advance of the game. We think it'd be a great and fun experience.'