The NHL Panthers lost last night's game against the Senators in front of an announced crowd of 7,311 at BB&T Center, "the smallest announced home crowd in franchise history," according to George Richards of the MIAMI HERALD. Last night's mark came in below the team's previous low of 10,063 "from a Halloween game" against the Hurricanes in '07. Capacity at BB&T Center, which opened in '98, is 19,250. Panthers G Roberto Luongo said, "If we want to get some people in the stands, we need to start winning some games." The Panthers' 0-2-1 record this season is "their worst start in seven seasons as the team has just three goals" through three games (MIAMI HERALD, 10/14). In Ottawa, Bruce Garrioch writes the turnout last night "could hardly have been called a crowd." BB&T Center "was a sea of empty seats and it's estimated there were less than 5,000 actually in the building." Senators LW Clarke MacArthur said, "It was tough. You've got to create your own energy that's for sure. That's an understatement. Any of the timeouts it wasn't hard to hear (coach Paul MacLean) talking that's for sure." Garrioch notes there "was actually nobody sitting in the row behind MacLean at all." Senators C Kyle Turris said that the players "made the best of the situation." Turris: "It was a (situation) where we kind of had to generate the atmosphere ourselves from the bench." Garrioch notes the Panthers "have stopped giving away free tickets and it has resulted in horrible numbers at the gates" (OTTAWA SUN, 10/14).
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NHL PANTHERS' LOWEST ANNOUNCED HOME CROWDS
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DATE
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OPPONENT
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ATTENDANCE
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Oct. 13, 2014
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Senators
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7,311
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Oct. 31, 2007
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Hurricanes
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10,063
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Oct. 15, 2003
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Coyotes
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10,069
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Dec. 3, 2013
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Senators
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10,074
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Oct. 31, 2006
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Sharks
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10,081
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SKIPPING TOWN? Panthers season-ticket holder John Butler last night said, "It feels like we're seeing the end of a franchise. So many rumors are flying around and (the owners) sent out a letter restating their commitment to South Florida. It doesn't feel totally positive." In Ft. Lauderdale, Harvey Fialkov notes the capacity of BB&T Center this season will be "substantially less" than its usual 19,250 as ownership "decided to tarp off several sections in the upper level to create a more intimate setting." The Panthers historically "have drawn the smallest crowds against the Senators and Hurricanes." Last night's "MNF" game and a rained-out Orioles-Royals ALCS game, as well as NBC's "The Voice," may have "been factors for the meager turnout" (
South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/14).
