Thousands of fans gathered at Elbo Room in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday morning to celebrate the Florida Panthers’ first Stanley Cup win in franchise history. The celebrations began as early as 6:30 am, with some fans already at the bar. By 7:30 am, anyone arriving was considered late as there was no more room inside the bar by 9 am.
The Panthers have come a long way since their establishment in 1993-94, when many doubted their ability to succeed in the NHL. Now, thirty-one years later, they can proudly say they have hosted the best post-championship celebration in all of South Florida sports, surpassing even the Marlins, Heat, and Dolphins, who last won a title in 1974.
The recent success of the Panthers has led to increased support and recognition from fans, particularly after reaching the Finals last year and winning the Stanley Cup this season. The celebrations at Elbo Room included Panther forward Matthew Tkachuk bringing the Stanley Cup to the bar and showcasing it alongside others who dipped it in the Atlantic Ocean and even used it as a pasta bowl by Panthers legend Robert Luongo.
This event marked only the beginning of what promised to be an exciting day for South Florida sports as fans continue to celebrate their beloved team’s historic win.
