Amerant Bank Arena, Home to the Florida Panthers – Sunrise, FL – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Felix Mizioznikov
How large was the public celebration for the Florida Panthers, the Stanley Cup champions, on Sunday?
On social media, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis wasn’t holding back. He wrote, “What a day to remember!” on his X account, which was originally Twitter. With a parade that quadrupled, if not tripled, the attendance from the previous year, Fort Lauderdale Beach was ablaze with pride today.
Tripled? Reduce your speed. As of Monday afternoon, official estimates had not yet been released. Police and fire rescue authorities in Fort Lauderdale said they were still figuring out the turnout, which isn’t exactly a science in and of itself.
Later, Trantalis pledged to let the professionals determine the official audience size. However, Sunday felt and looked enormous because this year’s procession was held under a bright sun instead of thunderclouds like last year.
It was a lot larger, Trantalis remarked. “We were incredibly excited, enthusiastic, and proud. Our town is truly a hockey town.
According to Frank Guzman, a spokesman for Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, the intense heat caused its own issues. “We answered more than 100 calls,” he claimed, including individuals who were experiencing heat exhaustion and collapsing as well as those who were complaining of weakness and fainting. “The afternoon was incredibly busy, but that was to be expected given the weather conditions.”
Stories that matter are our priority. At Florida Insider, we make sure that the information we provide our readers is accurate, easy-to-read, and informative. Whether you are interested in business, education, government, history, sports, real estate, nature or travel: we have something for everyone. Follow along for the best stories in the Sunshine State.
Mike has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and public relations. He once owned his own agency and has worked with some of the largest brands in the world.
