Fan's guide to the Panthers
Want to catch a Panthers ice hockey game and see some NHL action? Here's some tips to help you.
That's the Ticket
Tickets to see the Panthers are not hard to come by, and they aren't going to cost you a whole lot of money (ticket prices go as low as $17). While the team has eclipsed the 10,000 mark in season ticket holders, most games have plenty of tickets available for purchase. If you decide to go the scalper route, don't pay over face value. There are plenty to be had at the ticket counter.
Park It
The great thing about going to see a Panthers game - as opposed to, say, going to Dolphin Stadium - is the price of parking is already included in your ticket. So, if a friend gives you a ticket, bonus!, you don't pay for anything you don't want to. But here's the catch: If you buy tickets for a family for four, you're paying more in parking ($7 per person equals $28) than you would if the arena still charged $15 per car. Also, if most free ticket vouchers aren't really free. You still have to pay the $7 - per ticket - to cover the parking fee. So, unless you want the exercise and enjoy dodging traffic Frogger-style, don't bother parking at Sawgrass Mills and walking over.
Yum Yum
The grub at BankAtlantic Center is pretty good. The Nathan's hot dog is always a big seller, as is the Cuban sandwich, the pizza and the grilled chicken Caesar Salad. The nachos with extra cheese and jalapeños may not be all that good for you, but they sure look good. There are also specialty clubs (the Eastern Financial Zone is in the upper deck, the ADT Club on the club level) that offers good seats for the game as well as free food and drinks. It costs more to sit in these clubs, but if you get there early, it could be worth it for you. The Budweiser Terrace above the main entrance is a popular hangout before, during and after the games. Good food can also be found on the club level, with carving stations and pasta bars situated throughout.
Nice View
There isn't a bad seat in the house, although if you want to get the true hockey flavor, hit the ice. Try to sit as close as you can to the playing surface to really get a feel for what these athletes do shift in and shift out (think first 10 rows in any of the 100-Level seats between $162 - $97). Of course by sitting low you're going to pay premium prices and miss some of the action at the other end of the ice. The best seats for the money are about 20 rows up and in one of the corners (Sections 107, 112, 124 and 131 between $87 and $72). You're still close enough to see the players sweat, yet far enough to give some perspective of the game as it goes on.
Shhhhh. Sneaky secrets
Want a free ticket - well, almost free (you still have to pay for the parking)? The Quarterdeck Seafood Bar and Grill on the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Flamingo Road almost always have free ticket vouchers for weekday games - and even some early-season weekend games. Stop in, have a bite to eat or a drink and ask your server if they have the freebies. This is also the hangout for hockey fans before and after the game, so someone at the bar might have a couple extras to give away even if the bar doesn't.
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