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Florida Panthers play in Sunrise. City among top 10 for hockey fans

Florida Panthers play in Sunrise. City among top 10 for hockey fans

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We’re in the midst of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, with Florida’s two NHL teams experiencing very different seasons. But regardless, both ends of the state are fired up as they watch.

With the finals around the corner, personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on the Best Cities for Hockey Fans in 2024, seeing two major Florida cities within the top 10.

Experts used 21 metrics to compare 76 U.S. cities in their rankings. The data set ranged from the performance level of the city’s professional and college teams to minimum season ticket prices and stadium capacity.

“Hockey is one of the most underappreciated sports in America, but its popularity is steadily growing, bringing in record-breaking revenue and attendance,” Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst, said. “The best cities for hockey provide good opportunities to watch high-performing NHL teams in person, and sometimes NCAA teams as well. They also have some of the most dedicated fans in the country.”

Are the Florida Panthers in one of the best cities for hockey fans?

Tampa ranked eighth in the overall cities, which is not surprising with the Tampa Bay Lighting’s back-to-back Stanley Cup wins and its regular appearances in the Stanley Cup playoffs.  Overall, they have three cups and a dedicated fanbase that constantly sells out its games.

During this current season, the Lighting were defeated by their in-state rival, with the Florida Panthers delivering a 6-1 win back in April.

So what’s the other Florida city known for its hockey fans? It’s Sunrise.

Although the Florida Panthers have yet to win a Stanley Cup, they’ve made it to the Stanley Cup Final twice, and are fighting for another appearance now in the 2024 playoffs. The study also highlights these statistics for the team and its home city:

  • NHL team performance – 4
  • Average ticket price – 1
  • NHL stadium capacity – 1
  • NHL fan engagement – 2

As ESPN writes, the Florida Panthers are “physical and feisty. Skilled and speedy.” They are currently in the NHL Eastern Conference finals, taking on the New York Rangers for game 5 on at Madison Square Garden in New York.

What is the top U.S. city for hockey fans?

WalletHub determined that Boston is the best city for hockey fans. It’s home to the Boston Bruins, which has the most…

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