Amerant Bank Arena facts for kids
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Amerant Bank Arena in 2024
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 Amerant Bank Arena
Location in Florida
Amerant Bank Arena
Location in the United States
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| Former names | National Car Rental Center (1998–2002) Office Depot Center (2002–2005) Bank Atlantic Center (2005–2012) BB&T Center (2012–2021) FLA Live Arena (2021–2023) |
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| Address | 1 Panther Parkway |
| Location | Sunrise, Florida, United States |
| Coordinates | 26°9′30″N 80°19′32″W / 26.15833°N 80.32556°W |
| Parking | 7,045 total spaces |
| Owner | Broward County, Florida |
| Operator | Arena Operating Company, Ltd. |
| Capacity | Basketball: 20,737 Ice Hockey: 19,250 Arena Football: 19,779 Concerts: *End stage 180°: 15,207 *End stage 270°: 19,119 *End stage 360°: 21,371 *Center stage: 22,457 *Theatre: 3,000 |
| Field size | 872,000 sq ft (81,000 m2) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 8, 1996 |
| Opened | October 3, 1998 |
| Construction cost | US$184 million ($345 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Becket |
| Project manager | Upton & Partners |
| Structural engineer | Walter P. Moore & Associates |
| General contractor | Arena Development Company (A joint venture of Centex Rooney/Huber, Hunt & Nichols/Morse Diesel) |
| Tenants | |
| Florida Panthers (NHL) (1998–present) Florida ThunderCats (NPSL) (1998–1999) Florida Bobcats (AFL) (1999–2001) Florida Pit Bulls (ABA) (2005–2006) Miami Caliente (LFL) (2009–2010) Florida Freedom (PBR) (2024–present) |
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Amerant Bank Arena is a large indoor stadium in Sunrise, Florida, USA. It is the exciting home of the Florida Panthers, a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL). The arena opened in 1998 and cost about $185 million to build. It has many special features, including 70 private suites and over 2,600 club seats for fans.
Over the years, the arena has had several different names. It was first known as the National Car Rental Center. Later, it became the Office Depot Center, then the BankAtlantic Center, and the BB&T Center. For a short time, it was called FLA Live Arena before becoming Amerant Bank Arena. It is currently the biggest arena in Florida.
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History of Amerant Bank Arena
The story of the arena began in 1992 when Wayne Huizenga helped create the Florida Panthers hockey team. At first, the team played in the Miami Arena. But they needed their own dedicated home. In 1995, plans were made for a new building in Sunrise, Florida. Broward County approved the construction in 1996.
The Panthers chose the site in June 1996. Architects Ellerbe Becket were given just 26 months to build the arena. This was a very tight schedule, but they managed to finish it on time. The arena was ready by August 1998 for the new hockey season.
The building was known as the Broward County Civic Center during construction. In July 1998, National Car Rental bought the rights to name the arena. So, it became the National Car Rental Center. The arena officially opened on October 3, 1998, with a concert by Celine Dion. The Florida Panthers played their first game there on October 9, 1998. They won 4–1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Arena Name Changes Over Time
The arena's name changed several times due to new sponsors.
- In 2002, it became the Office Depot Center.
- Then, in 2005, it was renamed the BankAtlantic Center.
- After BB&T bought BankAtlantic in 2012, the arena became the BB&T Center.
- In 2019, BB&T merged with another bank. The new company decided not to renew the naming rights.
- The arena was temporarily called FLA Live Arena until a new partner was found.
- On September 19, 2023, Amerant Bank became the new naming rights partner. The arena is now known as Amerant Bank Arena.
Arena Upgrades and Features
In October 2012, a special area called Club Red (now Amerant Vault) was added. It is a large lounge for concerts and events, offering a great view of hockey games. In 2013, Broward County helped fund a brand-new scoreboard for the arena. This new scoreboard was first used for the Panthers' home opener on October 11, 2013.
Exciting Events at Amerant Bank Arena
Amerant Bank Arena hosts many different kinds of events. These include sports, concerts, and other big shows.
National Hockey League Events
- The Florida Panthers hosted the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and 2015 NHL Entry Draft at the arena. This is where NHL teams pick new players.
- The arena was the site for the 2003 National Hockey League All-Star Game on February 2, 2003. The Western Conference won the game. This game featured the first "official" shootout in the NHL.
- The arena also hosted the 2023 National Hockey League All-Star Game on February 4, 2023.
- The Florida Panthers played several games of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final and the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at the arena. The Panthers won the Stanley Cup in 2024, making the arena a place of great celebration!
- The arena hosted games for the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, where the Panthers won the Stanley Cup again.
Latin and Hispanic Music Shows
Sunrise and Fort Lauderdale are becoming a big area for Latin and Hispanic music fans. Amerant Bank Arena is a popular spot for these concerts.
- It hosted the Latin Billboard Music Awards in 2020.
- The Latin American Music Awards were held there in 2021.
- Many famous Latin artists have performed here, often selling out shows. These include Marco Antonio Solís and Juan Luis Guerra.
- Other popular artists like Peso Pluma and Santa Fe Klan have also performed.
Combat Sports Events
The arena has been a venue for exciting boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions.
- EliteXC: Heat took place on October 4, 2008.
- Strikeforce MMA made its debut at the arena on January 30, 2010.
- UFC on FX 3 was held on June 8, 2012, marking the first UFC event at the arena.
- UFC returned on April 27, 2019, for UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson.
- An exhibition boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and John Gotti III was held on June 11, 2023.
Professional Wrestling Shows
Many professional wrestling events have taken place at Amerant Bank Arena.
- WCW Monday Nitro - November 2, 1998
- WWF Raw Is War - May 11, 1999
- WCW Bash At The Beach - July 11, 1999
- WWF Armageddon – December 12, 1999
- WWF Raw Is War - April 10, 2000
- WWF SmackDown - July 6, 2000
- WWF SmackDown - November 23, 2000
- WWE Armageddon – December 15, 2002
- WWE Raw – January 10, 2005
- WWE Raw – November 19, 2007
- WWE SmackDown - February 19, 2015
- AEW Dynamite - April 26, 2023
- WWE Raw – August 19, 2024
Bull Riding Competitions
The arena has also hosted thrilling bull riding events.
- The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) brought their Built Ford Tough Series tour in September 2005. Kody Lostroh won this event.
- Since 2024, the Florida Freedom PBR bull riding team hosts an annual event at the arena every August.
Other Important Gatherings
- Important political figures, like Senator Barack Obama and Candidate Donald Trump, have held rallies at the arena.
- On February 21, 2018, a CNN town hall meeting was held here. It was a discussion about gun safety after a tragic school shooting.
- A public memorial service for the artist XXXTentacion was held at the arena on June 27, 2018.
Regular Events and Arena Details
Besides the Florida Panthers, the arena has been home to other sports teams. These include the Florida Pit Bulls basketball team and the Florida Bobcats arena football team. The arena also hosts the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic every December. This is a college basketball tournament.
Seating Capacity
The arena can hold many people, depending on the event:
- For Basketball: 20,737 fans
- For Hockey: 19,250 fans
- For concerts with an end stage: 12,500 to 19,000 fans
- For concerts with a center stage: 19,500 fans
The arena also has a large floor space of about 17,000 square feet for trade shows and other events.
Parking and Food Options
The arena has plenty of parking, with over 7,000 spaces available. There are also many places to get food and drinks. On the Plaza Level, you can find several food courts and special bars. The Mezzanine Level also has food courts for visitors.
See also
In Spanish: Amerant Bank Arena para niños
- List of indoor arenas by capacity
