The Florida Panthers parade to celebrate their first Stanley Cup win in franchise history was a resounding success, despite the bar’s early closure. Thousands of fans gathered at Elbo Room, marking the end of a weeklong party for the team that many doubted would last in the NHL when it was established in 1993-94.
Now, thirty-one years later, the Panthers can proudly say they hosted one of South Florida’s best post-championship celebrations, surpassing even the Marlins, Heat, and Dolphins – who last won a title in 1974. The celebrations began the morning after their victory, with Panther forward Matthew Tkachuk and others bringing the Stanley Cup to Elbo Room to be showcased and dipped in the Atlantic Ocean before being used as a pasta bowl by Panthers legend Robert Luongo.
The event marked only the beginning of what promised to be an exciting day for South Florida sports. Despite spending much of their history playing in relative obscurity, with fans often favoring more established franchises in the area, recent success has led to increased support and recognition for the Panthers.
