Psst! A Florida Panthers Stanley Cup parade? Officials offer just a few details
As the Florida Panthers went into Game 5 on Tuesday night, fans were eager to celebrate a possible Stanley Cup title with a parade or some type of big bash.
A popular destination for the festivities would be downtown Fort Lauderdale, about 17 miles east of Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena. In a proactive approach, the city of Fort Lauderdale acknowledges readying for the possibility, but just like everyone else says it’s way too early to discuss specifics.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said he could not discuss details on where the parade might be held and referred questions to the Panthers.
“The door’s open to the team to celebrate their victory here in Fort Lauderdale,” he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “But it’s up to them on where they will have their event.”
The location of the parade would be up to the Panthers, including the parade route.
Fort Lauderdale Police are “monitoring the Florida Panthers’ participation in the Stanley Cup Finals and we will share more information and details if and when they become available,” said police spokeswoman Detective Ali Adamson.
Spokespeople for the Panthers, as well as Amerant Bank Arena, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Would there also be a party in Sunrise, at or by the arena? Sunrise city spokeswoman Christine Pfeffer said Tuesday that the “Florida Panthers would be driving any celebration plans.”
Having a parade for a championship win has happened before in Fort Lauderdale. Consider the Marlins, whose parades as World Series Champions in 1997 and 2003 reached into Broward.
In 1997, the Marlins cruised the New River in fancy cigarette boats and luxury yachts, fans on the banks tossed baseballs toward the players for autographs and waved teal placards and World Series pennants.
The parades spanned across South Florida, including in Miami: One woman threw herself at the car of Alex Fernandez, the Cuban-American pitcher. “Kiss me, Alex! Kiss me!” the woman crooned before police dragged her away from the car.
The Marlins won again in 2003, and another boat parade made its way through South Florida, including the New River. Fireworks crackling off the Third Avenue Bridge in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Teal-clad fans converged on both sides of the New River to give the Marlins some heroes’ welcomes.
Staff Writer Susannah Bryan contributed to this report.
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash