The Florida Panthers Want $70 Million In Taxpayer Money; Losing $20M/Year

[Fuhgeddaboudit]

 
The Panthers, one of the NHL's most cheaply run teams, claim they're losing more than $20 million a year (more on this in a second). According to the Sun-Sentinel, the team has asked Broward County to tear up its current arena contract and sign a new one that would release the Panthers from their annual payments on the BB&T Center, with the county using hotel taxes to cover the payments instead.
 
For the Panthers to get their $70 million, the Broward County Commission would have to approve a rewriting of the county's contract with the team, and from their quotes in the Sun-Sentinel, they don't sound enthused. But the proposed deal does include one item with hockey implications—if the county assumes the team's payments, the Panthers would commit to a payroll "at a level competitive with the rest of the National Hockey League.'' Which sounds a bit like sports fan blackmail! Give us $70 million, and we'll finally ice a decent team.
 

 
http://deadspin.com/the-florida-pant...ney-1498613317
 
They need to move, closer to a city in Florida or something. 
 
Florida is definitely not a hockey place. But then again, it's their team...Tampa does well I believe.
 
 

 

[Teagz]

Miami just doesn't need sports teams. There are a lot better things to do than go sit around a sheet of ice when it's 75 degrees outside.

 

[Mr.Baller]

Move the team somewhere else .. I would be happy to see the Quebec Nordiques return !

 

[Pugz]

further south in florida will always be tough to run any sports teams. people go for vacation, not to watch games. not to mention most people in florida arent even full time residents.

 

[H-MYK]

As much as I hate seeing a city lose a team, Miami shouldn't have a hockey team. Have you seen home games? It's really sad when the away team's fans outnumber the Panther fans by a landslide.