Florida Panthers Inaugural Year

1993 - Florida Panthers Team Formation

Blockbuster Video magnate Wayne Huizenga was awarded an NHL franchise for Miami on December 10, 1992, the same day The Walt Disney Company earned the right to start a team in Anaheim. The entry fee was $50 million, but despite fellow Florida team Tampa Bay Lightning starting to play the year before, the league did not consider to be any territory infringement. Huizenga announced the team would play at the Miami Arena, sharing the building with the NBA’s Miami Heat, until a new arena was built.