The NHL Panthers' request for $86M in public funds "will move forward," after a majority of the Broward County (Fla.) commissioners yesterday said that they "were interested in exploring a possible aid package for the professional hockey team," according to a front-page piece by Brittany Wallman of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. This "doesn't seal the deal for the Panthers," but it "means a formal proposal will be brought to a County Commission vote, likely by year's end." The deal "offers more protections to the county than the Panthers' last request for a bailout, which failed last year." Broward County Auditor Evan Lukic, a "critic of the last request, said things at the county's BB&T Center in Sunrise haven't worked out the way the Panthers -- or the county -- had hoped." But he said that the Panthers this time "brought forward a more 'plausible' request, one that offers a letter of credit guaranteeing the county its money back should the team leave or fold." Wallman notes Broward Mayor Tim Ryan was the "most enthusiastic supporter, agreeing with county staff that the hockey arena ... is a community asset and its anchor tenant worthy of public financial support." Ryan said that though Panthers Vice Chair & Partner Doug Cifu and Owner Vinnie Viola "haven't threatened to leave or file for bankruptcy, the public purse is at risk if they did." NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said that the league is "committed to having a team in South Florida and hasn't considered a Panthers relocation to Quebec, where a new arena sits without a team" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/21).
