SUNRISE, FL – DECEMBER 04: A general view during a game at BB&T Center between the Florida Panthers and the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 4, 2014 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Attendance can be the bane of a professional sports teams existence in a sun belt market. When you have sun and good weather, it is tough to find an excuse to head to a game. It becomes amplified times ten when you’re a fledgling hockey team in a warm weather market like the Florida Panthers.

Sometimes for the Panthers, trying to get fans to come out to their games has been an exercise in futility. However, the team may have just found a way to get people down to the rink.

The Panthers just struck a deal with Uber and are hoping it will pay off in a big way. After the Panthers made the playoffs for the first time in quite a while, the next step is to try and get people to watch the games. Even in a great season with multiple star players on their team, they were seventh to last in attendance.

I guess the next step is a corporate sponsorship to get the fans excited for the new season?

In a press release the two sides announced the new agreement. Who exactly is this for? If you take Uber already, what does this change?

“Uber is a highly popular and rapidly growing transportation platform throughout South Florida”, said Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Greg Rieber. “We are very excited to partner with Uber to provide our fans with a safe, reliable and convenient way to travel to and from the BB&T Center.”

Uber’s partnership with the Panthers includes discounted driver tickets for select home games, ticket giveaways for Uber users throughout the season, and permanent signage in the designated area of the BB&T Center parking lot. 

“Uber is proud to announce this innovative partnership with the Florida Panthers which will help fans get to the BB&T Center, enjoy a Panthers win, and get back home safely,” said Kasra Moshkani, General Manager of Uber South Florida. “At the tap of a button, Panthers fans can now rely on accessible transportation options to and from the BB&T Center from anywhere in South Florida.”

There was nothing stopping fans from taking an Uber to the games before, but now there will be a dedicated gate at the arena for Uber pick-ups and drop-offs. Sorry public transportation, your reign of terror has ended in Sunrise, Florida. South Beach is now an Uber town.

[Florida Panthers]

About Sam Blazer

Sam is a self proclaimed chess prodigy. He once placed seventh in the state of Ohio in Chess when he was in kindergarten. He will rarely if ever mention though that only eight people were entered in this tournament. Contact him at sblaze17@gmail.com