For years, South Florida’s sports spotlight has mostly belonged to the Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, and Miami Marlins. But after winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, the Florida Panthers have matched a major milestone and are no longer the underdog.
Panthers reach historic milestone in South Florida sports
With two titles now (2024 and 2025), the Panthers have officially tied the Dolphins (1972, 1973) and the Marlins (1997, 2003) for most championships in franchise history. That’s a massive cultural shift in Miami sports, especially for a hockey team that wasn’t always part of the conversation.
Welcome to the big leagues, Panthers
This latest victory isn’t just a win for the franchise—it’s a win for all of South Florida. The Panthers have placed the region in an elite group of U.S. cities to win multiple titles across all four major leagues: NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. The others? Only New York, LA, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and Philly.
But unlike those markets, Miami’s teams—aside from the Dolphins—are relatively young. And that makes the Panthers’ fast climb even more impressive.
A city that cares more than you think
Critics have long said Miami doesn’t care about hockey. But anyone at Amerant Bank Arena for Game 6 saw something different. A sold-out crowd. Fans paying nearly $1,000 to get in. A roaring sea of red and white cheering louder than most NHL markets.
Even better? There’s momentum. Panthers’ regular-season TV ratings more than doubled last year. There’s now a waitlist for 2025-2026 season tickets. And if this keeps up, it may be time to put Sunrise next to Miami when talking about America’s best sports towns.
With a championship core, a smart front office, and a city finally all-in, the Panthers have a chance to do what no Miami team has done since the Heat’s three-peat run: build a dynasty.
And if you still think South Florida isn’t a real sports market, you’re about to be proven wrong—again.