The NHL Panthers lead the Eastern Conference in points and have "experienced increasing attendance numbers as a result," according to David Wilson of the MIAMI HERALD. The team drew more than 18,000 fans for their last home game, a Jan. 29 win against the Sharks, marking the first time the Panthers "drew more than 18,000 to Sunrise for a game" against someone other than the Canadiens. The Panthers’ average attendance this season is up to 14,002, putting the team "on pace for its highest full-season attendance" since the '16-17 season. Panthers President & CEO Matt Caldwell said that the team has "recovered 'all of our pre-COVID revenue,'" with attendance growth "outpacing most of the league and local television ratings at their highest level in two decades." The Panthers currently rank 24th in average home attendance -- their "best mark" since the '15-16 season -- and it makes this a "crucial moment for Florida to turn newfound interest into something sustainable." Caldwell: "Any metric that I look at, we are above either pre-COVID levels or above historic levels. The brand of the team has never been better" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/11).
