Florida Panthers: Four Problems with the In-Game Experience

The next few years could be the most pivotal for the Florida Panthers franchise. For more than a decade, they have been the perennial laughing stock of the league.

In the past, fans and spectators likened the Florida Panthers to a farm team. They watched players develop only to be traded or lost to free agency.

The mental gymnastics needed to try and recall the names of all the coaches, some being hall of famers, is more taxing than a game of Jeopardy.

Although the last six seasons have seen some changes, like the change in the logo in 2016 and the various stand out seasons by their youthful core, the same dysfunctional franchise laid behind the new logo on those jerseys.

With all that said, the future looks to be different. They have an owner that has loosened the purse strings and is intent on investing in a cup contender and winner.

They have management in place with skills and experience in drafting for the future. They have a core of players that are legitimate superstars in Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, and Aaron Ekblad.

And with the signing of Coach Quenneville this summer, all the major pillars of a successful franchise are finally in place.

While the product on the ice looks primed for immediate and long-term success, the organization still has one area to address: their in-game experience.

As a passionate fan of the sport, one of my bucket list items is to experience a game at every franchise arena. At current standing, I have observed the Panthers in 19 different NHL arenas and can conclusively say the Panthers’ in-game experience, to be blunt, sucks.

Having been a season ticket holder for many seasons and going to at least 7-10 home games every year, I have seen the experience evolve over the years and it has become evident the marketing team needs help.

The best experience by far during the franchise history is when the team was located at the Miami Arena in the early 90s.

The arena was small but intimate, and the theatrics were engaging and impactful, feeling the energy throughout the stadium. Currently speaking, though, a home game is of no advantage to the Panthers.

The crowd, usually masked by the sea of empty seats, is paralyzed from monotonous and ineffective in-game tactics, rendering the team helpless when in need of energy and momentum from their seventh man.

Here’s a list of four problems that hold back the Panthers’ in-game experience. Let’s begin!