The NHL Panthers collected deposits for club seats at
their new arena "under a false pretense that people actually
had a chance to buy a club seat," according to Alan Snel of
the Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL. Panthers fan Charles Pace
said he made a $2,098 deposit for four club seats in
November for the team's new Broward arena, only to have his
deposit returned this month after the team's current 13,000
Panthers season ticket holders "indicated they would gobble
up all 2,644 club seats." Current ticket holders "had first
crack" at the club seats. Pace "maintained the Panthers
drew money from new season ticket applicants as backups" if
the current ticket holders declined to renew at the new
arena. He said he was notified by the team in December that
his deposit had been accepted. Panthers VP/Operations Steve
Dangerfield said he understands why Pace is disappointed,
but said that there "was no attempt to deceive fans." Of
the 3,000 fans who signed up for new season tickets, 400 to
500 requested club seats. Dangerfield: "We did not realize
we had that heavy a demand. ... But from a fan's standpoint,
it's frustrating" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 4/16).
