In anticipation of the 2013-14 Florida Panthers hockey season, major upgrades have been made to the BB&T Center in Sunrise.
The centerpiece is a $2.9 million scoreboard, compliments of Broward County taxpayers. Aptly named "Big Red," the board is a one of a kind, 360-degree LED centerpiece to the arena boasting 6.5 million LED pixels.
“This was a story within itself. We worked with Broward County to get a new scoreboard,” Panthers President Michael Yormark said. “This was our number one offseason priority. Absolutely the best scoreboard in the National Hockey League.”
A total of $1.3 million was also spent on HD cameras and quality control equipment throughout the arena.
In addition to the scoreboard, a few more pieces have been upgraded and rebranded at the BB&T: The Legends Lounge, formerly the Black Velvet lounge, and "The Penalty Box," formerly the Platinum Club.
Club RED has a new presenting sponsor: Club RED by Stoli.
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There are new floors on the plaza, replacing the old carpet and tile with a brand-new apoxy floor.
All of these upgrades make the BB&T Center a destination for the South Florida sports fan, and even the average concertgoer.
“So if you’re a hard-core hockey fan, if you’re a casual hockey fan, or you’re just a sports fan, we’ve got something for you in this building. It’s not just about the product on the ice,” Yormark said. “It’s about the entire entertainment experience from the moment you get out of your car. And I think that’s what really differentiates us from our competition.”
