Panthers In Sunrise? Here's The Exact Arena
- 01. Where the Panthers Play in Sunrise
- 02. Exact Arena Name and Location
- 03. History of the Arena and the Panthers in Sunrise
- 04. Capacity, Features, and Fan Experience
- 05. How to Get to the Panthers' Arena in Sunrise
- 06. Economic and Community Impact in Sunrise
- 07. Key Facts Table: Amerant Bank Arena at a Glance
- 08. Common Questions About the Panthers in Sunrise
Where the Panthers Play in Sunrise
The Florida Panthers play their home games at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. This arena is located at 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise, FL 33323, and serves as the team's primary home venue since the 1998-99 NHL season.
Exact Arena Name and Location
Amerant Bank Arena, formerly known as FLA Live Arena, BB&T Center, and several other names, is an indoor multipurpose arena owned by the City of Sunrise and operated by the Florida Panthers organization. The building sits just west of the Sawgrass Expressway near the intersection of I-595 and NW 136th Avenue, making it easily accessible from both Fort Lauderdale and northern Miami-Dade suburbs.
For attending Florida Panthers games, fans should plan to arrive at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise; that is the only facility where the team plays its regular NHL home schedule. The arena's address-1 Panther Parkway-is deliberately branded around the team, reinforcing the Panthers' identity as the city's flagship professional sports franchise.
History of the Arena and the Panthers in Sunrise
Amerant Bank Arena opened in 1998 at a cost of about $185 million, with the majority of funding coming from public sources in Broward County. The facility was designed specifically to attract an NHL team, and the Florida Panthers moved there from Miami's Miami Arena starting with the 1998-99 season.
Since then, Sunrise has become synonymous with Panthers hockey, hosting more than 20 full NHL seasons at this central venue. The arena has undergone multiple naming-rights changes-from National Car Rental Center to Office Depot Center, BB&T Center, and eventually FLA Live Arena-before becoming Amerant Bank Arena in 2023.
Recent years have cemented the arena's status as a championship venue: the Panthers won the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025, bringing the trophy back to their home ice at Amerant Bank Arena. Those titles increased average attendance figures and helped Sunrise position itself as a core hub for National Hockey League fandom in South Florida.
Capacity, Features, and Fan Experience
Amerant Bank Arena has a stated hockey capacity of about 19,250 spectators, making it the largest arena in Florida by NHL seating standards. The venue includes roughly 2,623 premium club seats and 70 private suites, providing a blend of general seating and high-end hospitality options around the main rinks.
- Total parking spaces on site and adjacent lots exceed 7,000, easing access on game nights.
- Doors typically open about one hour before puck drop, allowing fans to enter the complex, clear security, and grab concessions.
- Concourses are designed with wide walkways, multiple concession stands, and multiple merchandising kiosks to reduce congestion.
- The arena regularly hosts concerts, college basketball, and other events when the Panthers are on the road, maximizing utilization of the facility.
Surveys of arena attendees in 2024 reported a median travel time of roughly 35 minutes from Fort Lauderdale and 45 minutes from central Miami, highlighting the strategic location as a suburban anchor point for a region-wide fanbase. During the 2024-25 Stanley Cup-winning season, weekend Panthers home games averaged ticket demand roughly 25 percent above league norms for the Southeast Division, reflecting intense local interest.
How to Get to the Panthers' Arena in Sunrise
Most visitors approach Amerant Bank Arena from the south via I-595, exiting onto NW 136th Avenue and heading north for about 1.5 miles. Although the Sawgrass Expressway (I-595 westbound) can seem more direct, it is a toll road and often heavily congested during afternoon and evening rush hours, so local traffic experts recommend using the surface-road route from Fort Lauderdale.
- From downtown Miami: take I-95 north to I-595 west, then exit at NW 136th Avenue and turn right/north toward the arena.
- From downtown Fort Lauderdale: merge directly onto I-595 west, exit at NW 136th Avenue, then proceed north for approximately 1.5 miles.
- From western Broward suburbs (Coral Springs, Plantation): use the Florida Turnpike or US-27 to I-595 east, then follow signs to NW 136th Avenue.
- From the west (Pembroke Pines, Weston): take US-27 north to I-595 east, exit at NW 136th Avenue, and turn north.
- For public transit riders: fixed-route bus service is limited at night, so rideshare or taxi from major transit hubs is typically required.
Parking attendants usually begin directing traffic to assigned lots about 90 minutes before the official arena opening time, with digital signage indicating which lots are full or reserved for ADA and premium guests. Security protocols at the main entrances include bag checks and metal-detection screening, consistent with NHL-wide safety standards.
Economic and Community Impact in Sunrise
Since the Panthers' arrival, Sunrise has leveraged Amerant Bank Arena as an economic engine, with the event-driven commerce around the arena contributing an estimated $45-60 million annually in direct and indirect spending, depending on the number of games and ancillary events. That figure includes tickets, parking, concessions, surrounding restaurants, and nearby hotels that often book out on high-visibility matchup nights.
The city's brand has evolved from a relatively low-profile suburb to a recognized sports-town destination, with the Panthers frequently highlighted in local tourism campaigns as a signature attraction. The Panthers organization also runs community-outreach programs anchored at the arena, including youth clinics, school-partnership initiatives, and charity nights, strengthening the link between the team and Sunrise residents.
Key Facts Table: Amerant Bank Arena at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Full arena name | Amerant Bank Arena |
| Former names | National Car Rental Center, Office Depot Center, BB&T Center, FLA Live Arena |
| Location | Sunrise, Florida (Broward County) |
| Address | 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise, FL 33323 |
| Opened | 1998 |
| Hockey capacity | Approximately 19,250 |
| Premium club seats | About 2,623 |
| Private suites | 70 |
| Total parking | Over 7,000 spaces |
| Primary tenant | Florida Panthers (NHL) |
| Stanley Cup wins hosted (as of 2025) | 2024 and 2025 |
Common Questions About the Panthers in Sunrise
For anyone planning a visit or simply wondering where the Panthers play in Sunrise, the answer is definitive: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, is the home of the team, with every puck drop taking place on that central South Florida ice sheet.
Expert answers to Panthers In Sunrise Heres The Exact Arena queries
What is the name of the Panthers' arena in Sunrise?
The Panthers' home arena in Sunrise is called Amerant Bank Arena, which was previously branded as FLA Live Arena and several earlier corporate names. The "Panthers-centric" address at 1 Panther Parkway reinforces its identity as the team's flagship venue.
Why do the Panthers play in Sunrise instead of Miami?
The Panthers moved to Sunrise in 1998 because demographic and traffic studies showed that a majority of their fanbase resides in Broward and northern Miami-Dade, making a suburban location west of Fort Lauderdale more practical than downtown Miami. The Sunrise arena also benefited from newer construction and larger parking capacity compared with older downtown venues.
How do I buy tickets to see the Panthers in Sunrise?
Tickets for Florida Panthers games at Amerant Bank Arena can be purchased through the official NHL.com ticket portal, the Panthers' own website, or authorized resellers connected to the arena's ticketing system. On-site box-office windows open several hours before game time, but most attendees reserve seats online in advance due to high demand, especially during playoff runs.
Is there public transportation to the Panthers' arena?
There is no dedicated nighttime public-transit service that runs directly into Amerant Bank Arena, so visitors generally drive, use rideshare services, or arrange private shuttles from central Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Regional bus lines serve daytime traffic nearby, but capacity and frequency drop significantly after evening games begin.
What other events happen at the arena where the Panthers play?
Besides Panthers hockey, Amerant Bank Arena hosts major concerts, NCAA basketball tournaments, family shows, and other large-scale events, often filling the venue on non-game nights. This diversified event calendar helps stabilize municipal revenue and keeps Sunrise on the map as a regional entertainment destination beyond hockey season.