Do you remember when the Florida Panthers played in Miami? Take a look
The Florida Panthers began their existence hosting home games in Miami’s Overtown area. From their first home game on Oct. 12, 1993, through April 16, 1998, South Florida’s NHL team played at Miami Arena, sharing the arena (and many revenues) with the Miami Heat.
Except for starting training camp the first and last seasons there, home games were the only thing the Panthers — offices in Fort Lauderdale, practices in Pompano Beach’s Gold Coast Ice Arena — did at Miami Arena, 721 NW First Ave. And, watching games was the only thing most fans liked about Miami Arena.
Going to one of the few restrooms on the only concourse? Bland concession stand choices? Parking? Argh.
But during play, the 14,703-seat arena could be a big box of atmosphere and sound you could feel in your stomach and chest. Panthers defenseman Gord Murphy said playing in bigger, then-new buildings, he could feel fans vainly trying to create the same thing but efforts being sucked up by arena size.
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Miami Arena is where original Panther Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room before the Oct. 8, 1995, home opener against Calgary, scored two goals in a 4-3 win and fans began throwing plastic rats on the ice after every goal. The every-goal custom lasted only that 1995-96 Year of the Rat season, but survives to this day for victories.
It’s where fans roared through a two-minute standing ovation after Bill Lindsay scored the Panthers’ first playoff series-winning goal on a speeding, tripping assault against Boston. It’s where, at 1:06 a.m. on June 10, 1996, a Stanley Cup was won, alas by the Colorado Avalanche on Uwe Krupp’s triple overtime goal.
But that season swung local feelings about public money for arenas. The day of the Panthers next home opener, Oct. 8, 1996, local pols and Panthers management held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new hockey home on the edge of the Everglades next to Sawgrass Mills mall.
On Oct. 9, 1998, the Panthers beat Tampa Bay 4-1 in the first official NHL game at National Car Rental Center in Sunrise. The building’s changed more corporate sponsors than a mid-level NASCAR driver. Currently, it’s Amerant Bank Arena.
The pink birthday cake on the edge of downtown Miami, built in 1988 and already outdated by the time the Panthers birth five years later, lost the Heat two days into this century and got imploded in 2008.
So, let’s take a look through the Miami Herald photo archives at those early years for the Panthers on Magic City ice.
This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 6:47 AM.
