Dan Spiegel: Critics Of Panthers Fan Base About To Get A Reality Check

so true, any team in any city would have empty seats when a franchise would play as poor as the Panthers did over a long period of time. Very nice that the Panthers finally turned it around (by the looks of it) and it will be interesting to see what will happen to the attendance the coming seasons. Good luck in the play offs Cats, the Atlantic is up for grabs

I'm pulling for the Panthers to win round one but lose to the Wings in round 2!

Go Panthers, beat the Isle

Panthers had a great season, have done a lot of good things with their roster. I have no doubt it will be a mad house there come Thurs. Truth is if Isles were not there I would be rooting for the Panthers...We know too well about lean seasons and frustration with the product on the ice.
I think it will be a greats series...you have the edge for sure in nets, Luongo loves killing the Isles and usually does it and makes it look easy...
....so in the spirit of hockey competition I hope the only ''seeing red'' for the Panthers in your goal light lighting up

I'm actually pulling for the Panthers since the Habs are out. Well coached and well put together team. I can see them doing some damage.

Great article, Dan.

I'm on the Panthers bandwagon now that the Leafs are where they belong (sunshine and lush greens, etc.).

I actually have money on the Cats and Caps in the Conference final!

I actually have money on the Cats and Caps in the Conference final!
- ShayneCorsi

Well written article and a topic that needs to be addressed. I get so frustrated at the elitism of Canadian hockey fans when I hear them say, "Oh that's not a traditional hockey market, we should move them to Canada" anytime an arena doesn't sell out. Give me a break! It's all about winning, regardless of the market. Put a good product on the ice and the people will come. I for one and glad for hockey in the South and hope it expands further.

Well written article and a topic that needs to be addressed. I get so frustrated at the elitism of Canadian hockey fans when I hear them say, "Oh that's not a traditional hockey market, we should move them to Canada" anytime an arena doesn't sell out. Give me a break! It's all about winning, regardless of the market. Put a good product on the ice and the people will come. I for one and glad for hockey in the South and hope it expands further.
- Crushers68

I agree that years of losing hurts a fanbase, and I also agree that Panthers fans aren't as bad as some people think.

That said, any fan base can look loyal and rabid during the playoffs. That's the easy part.

Let's see how the building looks next season. That will be the real indicator of whether the fans were just sick of losing or if the fan base just stinks. By that point, the team will have won a division and should have gone at least a couple rounds in the playoffs.

If the building is still half empty next season, then maybe the stereotypes are true.

Dan Spiegel: Critics Of Panthers Fan Base About To Get A Reality Check
- spiegs13

Good read , as a cbj fan this reminds me when they made the playoffs two years ago , and the fan support was just crazy during those games.Since the series I rarely see the inexistant fan base comments.

I agree that years of losing hurts a fanbase, and I also agree that Panthers fans aren't as bad as some people think.

That said, any fan base can look loyal and rabid during the playoffs. That's the easy part.

Let's see how the building looks next season. That will be the real indicator of whether the fans were just sick of losing or if the fan base just stinks. By that point, the team will have won a division and should have gone at least a couple rounds in the playoffs.

If the building is still half empty next season, then maybe the stereotypes are true.
- Charliebox

What's funny is I watched a video just yesterday of all Florida Panthers game winning goals of the season. It was really neat to see how the building slowly began to increase in attendance as the games went on. From probably December on the arena was sitting at about 85% capacity every game and ticket prices were DEFINITELY higher; whether the opponent was the Rangers or the Coyotes. Continued success is the best kind of success, and every professional sports team needs continued success. So, certainly we saw the fans grow in numbers and it was well before a playoff spot had been clinched.

In 2014-2015, we averaged just over 11,000 fans per game; 66% capacity. This past season we averaged nearly 16,000 fans per game; 90.5% capacity. That's a huge uptick in attendance. A big part of it also is that our new owners don't give tickets away like previous regimes did. But we beat several teams in attendance this past season, including our first-round opponent New York Islanders.

Fans that only show up when you start winning are called.....

Fair Weather Fans

They aren't really the type that your going for.... FYI.....

yes, when a team starts to do well again, the fanbase comes out again.

Holy crap can we stop with the freaking attendance already. If you are management alright, if you fans who cares?

Fans that only show up when you start winning are called.....

Fair Weather Fans

They aren't really the type that your going for.... FYI.....
- TheGame316

Disagree - they may start out as fair weather fans but once the consistent winning happens they become hooked and are fans for life

"Fans that only show up when you start winning are called.....
Fair Weather Fans
They aren't really the type that your going for.... FYI..... "
TheGame316


Are you speaking as owners/management or fan base? Owners and management love it when people show up every game, pay big bucks, buy logo merchandise, and sell out the stadium every game NO MATTER THE QUALITY of the team.

I hate to break it to you, but Toronto fans, like Chicago Cubs fans, are doomed to a future of mediocrity because there is no financial pressure or incentive on owners to win or improve the product performance.

The Cubs, by the way, are still selling out one of the oldest stadiums in baseball more than 100 years after the last World Series win. Simple random chance should have had them winning the World Series more than 7 times in that time span.

Teams that need to win are going to make the trades, take the risks, ride the edge, aggressively seek every talent, advantage, and opportunity, and make it happen. The ones who don't need that will sit back and congratulate themselves on being in a market that so willingly accepts mediocrity while going through the motions of looking like they're trying (like shuffling the coaching staff every 3 years).

I don't think it's any coincidence that there are no Canadian teams in the playoffs this year, but there are 2 from Florida, 3 from California, 1 from Texas, and 1 from Tennessee. Arizona came as close to the playoffs as Ottawa and Winnipeg, the two closest Canadian teams.

Fair weather fans? You mean those who know the product is lacking so they decide to invest their hard-earned money elsewhere until quality improves? They're the ones putting the pressure on management to change and win.

Dan is 100% right. Winning fixes everything. We have tons of hockey fans here in South Florida (Panthers and others). The market is ripe to be tapped. Maybe we just have higher standards here.

Now if we could just get past the problem of the beach sand clogging up the skate blades...

Well written article and a topic that needs to be addressed. I get so frustrated at the elitism of Canadian hockey fans when I hear them say, "Oh that's not a traditional hockey market, we should move them to Canada" anytime an arena doesn't sell out. Give me a break! It's all about winning, regardless of the market. Put a good product on the ice and the people will come. I for one and glad for hockey in the South and hope it expands further.
- Crushers68

you should check yourself. those people are mostly in southern ontario. please don't tarnish all canadians because of those people, who live around Toronto.

Good read!
I really like this Panthers team. And am hoping they go far.
Good luck.

Fans just want to support a winner. And there is nothing wrong with that at all. The only thing that gets me riled up is the fans who think they need to look like they are going clubbing rather than a sporting event. Support your team, wear the colours, be loud and make the opposing team feel as uncomfortable as possible. That makes it so much more enjoyable than posting pics on instagram or texting all game long. My fellow Vancouver fans know exactly what I am talking about.

I know a whole crap load of Van fans that are rooting for the Panthers this spring. And I am one of them. If anyone has a place for me to stay in Miami for round two, please let me know. Even if you are a serial killer, I'll take that chance.

All of this blogging is fogging your mind. No one cares about Florida.

All of this blogging is fogging your mind. No one cares about Florida


Enjoy your couch, have a nice summer.

All of this blogging is fogging your mind. No one cares about Florida.
- jtuzyk

Wait 5 years and the Jets will be on their way out of town again. And nobody outside of Winnipeg will care.

you should check yourself. those people are mostly in southern ontario. please don't tarnish all canadians because of those people, who live around Toronto.
- kaptaan

You are correct my friend, my apologies for generalizing