As early as 6:30 on Sunday morning, dedicated fans began gathering at Fort Lauderdale’s famous Elbo Room. By 7:30, the bar was already teeming with people, and by 9 a.m., there wasn’t a single spot left. Thousands of enthusiastic Florida Panthers supporters had come together to witness the celebratory parade marking the team’s historic first Stanley Cup victory.
This grand event marked the culmination of a weeklong celebration for the Panthers, a team that many had doubted would endure in the NHL when it was established in the 1993-94 season. Thirty-one years later, the Panthers have proven their critics wrong by hosting what is considered the most vibrant post-championship celebration in South Florida sports history. Not even the Miami Marlins, the Miami Heat, or the Miami Dolphins—who last won a title in 1974—have seen such a turnout.
Despite spending most of their existence in relative obscurity, overshadowed by the more established local franchises, the Panthers have found that winning brings support. Their journey to this moment began last year when they made it to the Finals but fell to the Las Vegas Knights. This year, the Panthers powered through the postseason, eventually clinching the Stanley Cup by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in a thrilling seven-game series.
The celebration continued the next morning with Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk and other team members bringing the Stanley Cup to the Elbo Room. This iconic bar, the oldest in Fort Lauderdale, became the epicenter of festivities. Fans got to take pictures with the Cup, which even made a splash in the Atlantic Ocean and served as an unconventional pasta bowl for Panthers legend Roberto Luongo.
Sunday’s festivities were just the beginning of what promises to be an unforgettable day for South Florida sports fans. The excitement and pride in the Panthers’ victory have united the community in a way that transcends the game itself, setting a new standard for championship celebrations in the region.
