Why does Florida have two hockey teams? The answer might be surprising and you can probably guess who gets the blame for it. Let me ask you another question. Why are there 29 NHL teams, yet only 28 have their own ice rink where they practice?
The answer will blow your mind!
The Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning may seem like brothers, but they are actually cousins. When most people think of Florida, they usually think of a giant orange.
Other things that come to mind are Disney World, beaches, or Miami.
There’s a lot more to the state of Florida than meets the eye though.
If you’re looking for diversity, you’ve come to the right place!
Hockey is Canada’s game, and for the most part, it’s a sport that Canadians have little interest in. However, in the last twenty years, many Americans have taken up the sport.
This can be attributed to several factors: The NHL moved into larger American markets and the Canadian currency has become more competitive against the US dollar.
This has caused many Americans to follow hockey now with two franchises settling in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Floridians generally live a carefree lifestyle, with warm weather and beautiful beaches. The Floridian temperament is reflected in the local sports scene as well, with two professional ice hockey teams in the Sunshine State.
Florida Is Home to Two Hockey Teams
You can see why Florida is so unique by looking at its history. It was formed in the 1960s as the Semi-Provident Hockey League, which recruited players from the lower levels of the game.
At the time, there was only one arena and games began at 9:00 pm.
Today, there are teams from all over the country, including the Florida Panthers and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Miami Beach Pirates – The Tropical Hockey League
There was once a short-lived ice hockey minor league in Miami, Florida called the “Tropical Hockey League.” It had four teams and played for one season in 1938-39.
In 1940, the league was briefly revived before folding in 1941.
The league’s history is largely obscure, but what does it mean to the players, the fans, and the game itself?
The answer is a bit complicated. Read on to learn more about the league and what makes it unique.
The league’s first game was played on December 10, 1938, and was billed as the first hockey game to be played in the southern United States.
There was even a mambo concert after the second period!
Unfortunately, the inaugural game ended in a fight.
The league played 15 games in its first season, but the late start times and low attendance levels didn’t attract many fans.
The low-quality competition led to a dismal outcome for the league, and the Tropics folded after only two years.
Four cities were “representative” of the league, and all games were played at the Metropolitan Ice Palace, formerly the Coral Gables Coliseum.
The THL’s existence made Miami the first known venue for pro hockey in the Southern United States. But it wasn’t for long. Its success may have been the beginning of a hockey revolution in the Southern United States.
While there were some notable teams, the majority of players were not NHL-caliber. Most were junior hockey players and ex-elite high school athletes.
The league’s owners and players reflected the diversity of the country’s professional ice hockey scene.
Despite this diversity, the league’s players had one thing in common: they were all passionate about the sport and were determined to play their way into the National Hockey League.
And while many fans may be disappointed with the lack of success they saw, there is no reason not to support this unique league.
The NHL moved to Florida in the early 90s, and now the state is home to two NHL teams – the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers.
The Lightning is based in Tampa and play at FLA Live Arena, while the Panthers play at Amalie Arena. Both teams have a rich history in Florida, with the Lightning having their first season in Miami in 1992, and the Panthers joining the league in 1994.
One of the reasons that hockey is so popular in Florida is that most players begin their hockey careers in high school or travel ball.
They often decide to continue their education in college after they have graduated from high school.
This familiarity with the players helps speed up their growth in college and helps maintain the team’s numbers.
While hockey is popular in Florida, it’s not widely covered, particularly by local media.
But, Florida’s hockey culture is incredibly diverse, and there are several ways to enjoy its hockey culture.
Florida Panthers
The NHL franchises of Florida are the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers are an American professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, FL.
The team plays its home games in the FLA Live Arena, outside of Miami. The Panthers won the Stanley Cup in 1996 and the Lightning has won the league once since joining in 1993.
If Florida had not been a hockey state, ice hockey would have had a difficult time growing in the state.
The NHL franchises would not have been able to expand if it had not been for the Florida ownership groups who funded the expansion.
The Panthers improved significantly this season, ending the regular season in the top spot in the NHL standings.
They had the fifth-best power play in the NHL, with a 24.4 percent clip. However, their goal total is the lowest in the league, and they have yet to score on the power play after 25 attempts.
They also keep getting too fancy with their offense.
Too many extra passes often cost them the game, especially in the postseason.
When Did the Panthers Move to Sunrise?
There are a few reasons why this might be the case. One, the team is a much better fit for a smaller community. The other, the Panthers could be more popular in their current city.
They’re located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami and can easily be accessed via 595, 75, 95, and the Sawgrass Expressway.
In 1961, the town was called Sunrise Golf Village.
The stadium’s new name was chosen in 1996 to avoid confusion with the former Miami Arena.
The former arena was known as the National Rental Car Center, which reflects the name of the team’s former owner, Wayne Huizenga. Its seating capacity was boosted from 17,000 to over 19,000 people.
In addition to the new name, the arena also housed Pavel Bure and Valeri Bure, two Panthers who are now teammates. However, the name only lasted for five years, as Huizenga was forced to file for bankruptcy.
Despite the long-lasting name change, the building has already played host to some memorable moments in Florida’s history.
In addition to hosting the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, Bank Atlantic Arena hosted the NHL All-Star Game.
The Western Conference won 6-5 in a shootout. In addition, the Panthers hosted the 2015 NHL Draft, featuring Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres.
Is It Cold in the Florida Panthers Arena?
Is it cold in the Florida Panthers Arena? – What should I know before going?
The Florida Panthers arena is located in South Florida. It is located at the top of a set of stairs on the south side. The arena is equipped with wide concourses, three food courts on each level, and a Pantherland team store.
The temperature in the arena can reach 40 degrees.
If you want to watch a hockey game, you should consider purchasing tickets to the BB&T Center.
The arena has a lower level, which has seating sections numbered 1 through 28. Seats in these sections begin at row one and continue upward.
Upper-level tickets are generally the cheapest. Located on the second floor, the Panthers’ Lord Stanley’s Loft offers private dining and is an 8,000-square-foot area with a catered buffet and wine.
The temperature in the Florida Panthers arena varies.
In general, ice temperature is twenty-five degrees or lower when the game begins. The temperature in the building may increase during the game, but the ice is generally warmer. The temperature on the ice is usually between twenty-five and twenty-one degrees at game time.
This temperature is usually lower than the air temperature, which ranges between fifty and sixty degrees. The NHL doesn’t like ice temperatures to get above twenty-four degrees. Luckily, the ice technicians have a system in place to keep the temperature low and even.
What should I wear to avoid being too cold?
A comfortable layer is essential – there’s no need to shiver while watching a game. Layers should be layered, but don’t forget that the team jersey will help keep you warm.
You should also wear thick socks and gloves. You won’t be able to see the ice if you’re sitting in section 303.
Wrapping Up – Why does Florida have two hockey teams?
So…why does Florida have two hockey teams? Florida is a special place with strange quirks and idiosyncrasies.
Baseball teams wear shorts, people wear Speedos to the beach, and there are two hockey teams in Florida: the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers.
Of course, each team plays in a state full of transplants who love hockey and grew up rooting for their hometown teams: Philadelphia for the Lightning and Detroit for contenders Panthers.
The Lightning even won the Stanley Cup in 2004 during its first year of play since relocating from Atlanta.
Overall I’d say that although the Tampa Bay Lightning are far from being one of the top-tier teams in the league, they are a step up from the Florida Panthers.
The chances of winning a cup with Tampa Bay may be slim, but there’s always a chance.