Pin Pals: NHL Panthers To Unveil New Fan-Friendly Initiatives

By Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Panthers Beefing Up Fan-Friendly Initiatives

Sunshine Sports & Entertainment (SSE) will unveil two new, high-resolution video boards and launch a new pin-trading program for spectators when the NHL Panthers take the ice against the Avalanche on December 21. The Comcast Vision video boards will be located outside the arena above the main entrance to BankAtlantic Center. They will have video and audio feeds and will be used to show Panthers games and promotions. The pin-trading program is modeled after a pin exchange system at Disney World where employees wear lanyards and trade pins with visitors. Panthers ushers, ticket takers and employees will do the same at BankAtlantic Center, wearing Panthers pins and trading with fans who have hockey-related pins. Panthers pins will be sold at the game for $6.95 or $12.95. Panthers President & COO Michael Yormark said he visited Disney World earlier this fall and was amazed at visitors' interest in the pin-trading program, so he decided to bring it to BankAtlantic Center. He said it might be possible to create a pin-trading center and sell a sponsorship around it in the future. The program will continue for the rest of the season.