Amerant Bank Arena
Sunrise, FL · Pro Hockey
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- Member cap
- 19,250
- Cost to join
- Free
- Verification
- Email + Phone
- Status
- Open
— verified members.
Venue encyclopedia
Independent, no paid placements
What attending a pro hockey game at the Sunrise, FL venue is actually like: seating, arrival, weather, food, and the seats we'd point a friend toward (or away from).
- Opened
- 1998
- Capacity
- 19,250
- Roof
- Indoor / climate-controlled
- Orientation
- Indoor, climate-controlled hockey arena with a three-tier bowl: lower bowl (100s), club and suite level (200s), and upper bowl (300s). Standard modern arena layout with a center-hung scoreboard and clean sightlines around the rink.
Neighborhood
In Sunrise, west of Fort Lauderdale in Broward County, right next to the Sawgrass Mills mall and its shopping and dining. This is a suburban, drive-in arena ringed by large surface parking lots rather than a downtown building; there is no walkable bar district beyond the mall, so the pre-game scene runs on the lots and the adjacent shopping-and-dining complex. Plan to arrive by car.
What it feels like
A suburban South Florida arena that has grown genuinely loud on the back of the Panthers' recent success, including deep playoff runs and a championship. The team's rat tradition is the local color: fans famously threw plastic rats onto the ice after goals in the 1990s, and the rat theme carries through celebrations today. Because it sits by the mall with big surface lots, the day is built around driving in and tailgating, then a loud, energetic bowl once the puck drops. Playoff nights here have turned into some of the most raucous in the league.
Seating tiers
Lower bowl (100s)
Rows 1-20Closest to the ice, wrapping the rink. Premium pricing at center ice and behind the benches; glass seats sell at the top end.
Club / suite level (200s)
Mid-level with padded seats, indoor club access, and shorter lines.
Upper bowl (300s)
Rows 1-20Steep and honest with clean sightlines to the whole sheet. The best value in the building.
Sections we'd pick
- Lower bowl at center ice along the sides for the closest straight-on view of the full sheet
- Upper bowl center-ice sections for the best price-to-sightline value and the loud playoff atmosphere
- Lower bowl behind the goal the Panthers attack twice for the scoring-end action and the rat celebration
Sections we'd skip
- Lower-bowl corners in the front rows, where tracking the far-side play is harder
- The last rows of the upper bowl in the corners, farthest from the ice
Arrival
- Primary route
- I-75 and the Sawgrass Expressway (Route 869) reach Sunrise; local roads feed the arena and its lots next to Sawgrass Mills.
- Rail / transit
- No rail service to the arena. This is a drive-in venue; plan on parking or rideshare, though the team runs game-day bus and shuttle options on some routes.
- Rideshare
- Designated drop-off and pickup zones at the arena. Post-game surge is common because everyone leaves the lots at once; walking toward the lot edges before requesting a ride helps.
- Parking
- 8,000 spots across 20 lots , median $25 . Prepay recommended.
- Walk to gates
- ~8 minutes (median)
- Notes
- Big surface lots ring the arena and support tailgating. Pre-pay through the team's parking partner for the closer lots; general lots are first-come. Arrive early on marquee dates to tailgate and beat the single-area exit backup on the way out.
Weather and timing
Roof
Indoor
Fully indoor and climate-controlled, a cool refuge from South Florida heat and humidity year-round. Only the walk across the surface lots is exposed, so expect warmth and sun on the way in.
Food inside
The menu leans South Florida: Cuban sandwiches and empanadas, Latin-influenced options, and seafood alongside standard arena fare and a Florida craft-beer list. The Cuban sandwich and Latin stands are the local-color picks.
Food and pre-game outside
No walkable downtown scene; the food is the tailgate lots plus the restaurants at the adjacent Sawgrass Mills mall a short walk or drive away. Eat in the lots or at the mall complex before or after the game.
Accessibility
ADA seating with companion seats on every level and accessible routes from all entrances. Accessible parking in lots close to the entrances; request the nearest lots when you pre-pay. Sensory resources are available through guest services.
Worth knowing before you go
- This is a drive-in arena next to Sawgrass Mills; arrive early on marquee dates to tailgate and beat the lot-exit backup.
- The rat tradition is the local color; expect rat-themed celebrations tied to the team's recent Cup success.
- Bag policy is limited; check the current policy on the team site before you go.
- Cashless throughout the venue.
What Panthers fans get
- A permanent member number that reflects when you joined. The lower the number, the higher your standing — forever.
- Priority access to seat opportunities at Amerant Bank Arena. Seniority determines order. No luck involved.
- First look at every new perk, partner offer, and member event — founding members always hear before anyone else.
- Founding Member status. This tier closes when the roster fills at 19,250. It doesn't reopen.
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