3 days ago
Do you remember when the Florida Panthers played in Miami? Take a look
The Florida Panthers began their existence hosting home games in Miami's Overtown area. From their first home game on Oct. 12, 1993, through April 16, 1998, South Florida's NHL team played at Miami Arena, sharing the arena (and many revenues) with the Miami Heat.
Except for starting training camp the first and last seasons there, home games were the only thing the Panthers — offices in Fort Lauderdale, practices in Pompano Beach's Gold Coast Ice Arena — did at Miami Arena, 721 NW First Ave. And, watching games was the only thing most fans liked about Miami Arena.
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Going to one of the few restrooms on the only concourse? Bland concession stand choices? Parking? Argh.
But during play, the 14,703-seat arena could be a big box of atmosphere and sound you could feel in your stomach and chest. Panthers defenseman Gord Murphy said playing in bigger, then-new buildings, he could feel fans vainly trying to create the same thing but efforts being sucked up by arena size.
READ MORE: How many Panthers fans want another Stanley Cup more than sex or $1 million?
Miami Arena is where original Panther Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room before the Oct. 8, 1995, home opener against Calgary, scored two goals in a 4-3 win and fans began throwing plastic rats on the ice after every goal. The every-goal custom lasted only that 1995-96 Year of the Rat season, but survives to this day for victories.
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It's where fans roared through a two-minute standing ovation after Bill Lindsay scored the Panthers' first playoff series-winning goal on a speeding, tripping assault against Boston. It's where, at 1:06 a.m. on June 10, 1996, a Stanley Cup was won, alas by the Colorado Avalanche on Uwe Krupp's triple overtime goal.
But that season swung local feelings about public money for arenas. The day of the Panthers next home opener, Oct. 8, 1996, local pols and Panthers management held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new hockey home on the edge of the Everglades next to Sawgrass Mills mall.
On Oct. 9, 1998, the Panthers beat Tampa Bay 4-1 in the first official NHL game at National Car Rental Center in Sunrise. The building's changed more corporate sponsors than a mid-level NASCAR driver. Currently, it's Amerant Bank Arena.
The pink birthday cake on the edge of downtown Miami, built in 1988 and already outdated by the time the Panthers birth five years later, lost the Heat two days into this century and got imploded in 2008.
So, let's take a look through the Miami Herald photo archives at those early years for the Panthers on Magic City ice.
Florida Panthers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck watches as Boston Bruin Joe Juneau celebrates his overtime goal at Miami Arena, Dec. 19, 1993, the Panthers' inaugural season. Panthers center Stu Barnes scored with six seconds left in the third to send the game into overtime before Juneau scored for a 2-1 Boston win.
Plastic rats being carried off the ice after a Panthers goal against Chicago on Oct. 17, 1995. After Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the Panthers locker room before the home opener that season, fans began throwing rats onto the ice after each Panthers goal. Eventually, pest control company Orkin sponsored the crew charged with picking up the plastic rats after each goal.
Panthers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck leaves the Miami Arena with his son, Ian, 7, after the Game 4 triple overtime loss to Colorado on June 10, 1996, that ended the 1996 Stanley Cup Final.
Fans cheer for the Panthers in 1996 at Miami Arena.
Panthers fans show their spirit as the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers take the ice for Game 1 of their 1997 first round playoff series at Miami Arena. The Panthers 3-0 win would be their last win in a playoff game until 2012.
In 1997, Panthers' left wing Mike Hough takes a hit from future Panther Sandis Ozolinsh during a loss to the Colorado Avalanche at Miami Arena. Note the Blockbuster Video advertisement. Both the team and video chain were owned by H. Wayne Huizenga.
Florida Panthers players do conditioning drills at Miami Arena, during the first two weeks of training camp before the 1997-98 season. The Panthers also did the first weeks of their first training camp, in 1993, at Miami Arena.
