Florida Panthers tickets: your 2026-27 home games guide
Back-to-back champions in 2024 and 2025, the Panthers still draw one of the most curious crowds in the NHL: locals, snowbirds and tourists seeing hockey in shorts. Here is how to pick a game among their 42 home dates at Amerant Bank Arena, where to sit and how to buy smartly from abroad.
Hockey in the sun: why the Panthers belong on your 2026-27 list
Sunshine and hockey sound like an odd pairing, and that is part of the fun. The Panthers entered the NHL in 1993, played their early years at Miami Arena and moved to Sunrise in 1998. Their first big moment came in 1996, when a surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final made plastic rats fly onto the ice and put South Florida hockey on the map.
The modern chapter is bigger. The club won the Cup in 2024 and again in 2025, which makes this one of the strongest eras in franchise history, even after Carolina took the 2026 title. A game here means seeing a team used to deep playoff runs, in a building that is easy to reach, easy to enjoy and surrounded by warm weather.
For Panthers tickets, this is a good-value hockey trip: December to March gives you an escape from European winter, and the games can be paired with Miami, the Keys or a beach week.
Amerant Bank Arena: the Panthers' home in Sunrise
Amerant Bank Arena opened in 1998, seats 19,250 for hockey and sits in Sunrise, west of Fort Lauderdale, in the suburban sprawl next to a very large outlet mall. It is not a downtown-walkable arena: this is South Florida, and almost everyone arrives by car or ride-share.
Getting to Amerant Bank Arena
Driving is the norm. Fort Lauderdale airport is roughly 25 minutes away depending on traffic, and Miami is about 40 to 50 minutes in a calm evening and much longer in rush hour. Ride-share drop-offs are well organised, but allow time for the return trip after the game, because everyone leaves at once.
What to do around the Panthers' arena
The huge shopping mall next door has restaurants and bars, so you can eat before the game. Inside the arena, concourses are wide and food is varied. Bring a light layer: the air-conditioning is serious, even when it is 30 degrees outside. Bag rules are strict, so check the official box office page before you go.
Parking and timing
Parking lots surround the building and fill quickly for rival nights. Arrive an hour early if you plan to drive, and remember that evening rain in summer-like months can slow traffic.
Where to sit for a Panthers game at Amerant Bank Arena
The bowl is wide and modern, so even high seats are fine for viewing. Your decision is mostly about budget and how close you want to be.
Lower bowl behind the glass
If you want to hear skates and sticks, lower-level seats along the sides or near the benches are ideal. They are the most expensive for Panthers tickets and the best for photos with the ice in the background.
Panthers club and mid-level seats
The 200-level sections give a clean view of lines, power plays and defensive coverage without the lower-bowl price. For many fans, this is the best balance of view and cost.
Cheaper seats for Panthers games and family tips
Upper-level seats are the budget route and work well for groups. With children, aisle seats and sections close to the concourse help with food runs and bathroom breaks. First-timers should favour a weeknight game against a non-rival: calmer, less crowded and perfect for learning the rhythm of hockey.
Panthers game-night traditions, from rats to roars
The rat tradition from 1996 is the best-known piece of Panthers folklore. It no longer takes over the building, but you will see rat references in merchandise and on video boards. Fans in red, navy and gold fill the lower bowl, and chants of "Let's go Panthers" swell during power plays.
The crowd has changed since the Cup runs. Once seen as quiet, the building is now louder, with more people arriving early and staying for the final horn. Goals bring a horn, lights and a wall of sound, and the team mascot, Stanley C. Panther, works the stands between periods.
Because Florida draws visitors from everywhere, the stands carry many jerseys: Rangers, Bruins, Canadiens and Maple Leafs fans often come to see their teams. This gives games a mixed, good-humoured atmosphere. If you are visiting from Europe, you will feel at ease even in opponent colours.
Panthers rivalries and the home dates vs the big names
Three opponents carry extra weight in the 2026-27 home schedule.
Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning: the Battle of Florida
The state rivalry visits Amerant Bank Arena on November 28, 2026 and December 26, 2026. The second date falls during the holiday week, so expect strong demand and visitors from all over the state. Prices for Panthers tickets are usually higher for these two nights.
Panthers vs Boston Bruins
Boston arrives on December 8, 2026 and April 9, 2027. The Bruins bring one of the biggest travelling fan groups in the league, especially in winter, when New Englanders escape the cold. The April date is just before the season finale.
Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina, the 2026 Cup winner, visits on January 21, 2027 and April 10, 2027, the home finale. The Panthers also open the schedule in Carolina during the banner raising, so this rivalry has fresh edge this year.
How to buy Panthers tickets without overpaying
The best prices for Panthers home games usually come on weeknights, early in the season and against teams without strong travelling support. Holiday dates, Battle of Florida nights and games against Boston or Toronto-style crowds are pricier.
Official sales and resale for Panthers tickets
Start with the official box office of the team to know the face-value range, then compare resale marketplaces for the same section. Prices can rise fast after a win streak and fall as game day approaches, so an alert helps more than daily checking.
Buying Panthers tickets from Europe
Florida is six hours behind France, so evening games start very late at night in Europe. Mobile tickets are standard, so make sure your phone and card work abroad, and save the barcode offline. Book your hotel near Sunrise or Fort Lauderdale rather than Miami Beach if you want less driving.
Best time to visit for Panthers games
Winter is high season: pleasant weather, busy hotels and higher flight prices. October and November can be cheaper but still warm. Hurricane season ends November 30, so late-season trips carry less weather risk.