It’s time to talk about the financial situation in Florida again. The Panthers are a team in the red, but that’s not exactly new information. If you’ve seen the attendance figures so far this year, you’re aware that they’re averaging just over 9,000 fans per night through their first four home games.
As for last year, a report from CBC.ca reveals that the Panthers lost approximately $114,000 per day. Are they still losing money in 2014-15? You better believe it, but perhaps not as much as they were last year.
The Panthers eliminated a lot of their giveaways and promotions in 2014-15, aiming to put fans in the seats based on the product on the ice. So far that has led to some truly small crowds, including the lowest attendance for a home opener in franchise history.
The Panthers’ decision to cut out some of the promotional and free seats has resulted in smaller crowds but it hasn’t had an impact financially. Panthers co-owner Doug Cifu says that “the net intake has not suffered.” He also admits that the team is still losing money, but not as much as last season.
It’s nice to hear the Panthers are in better shape than losing $114,000 per day, but it’s clear the team has a long way to go before they’re financially stable.
