History Fort Lauderdale To Honor The Florida Panthers - Back-To-Back Stanley Cup Champions To Be Recognized For Their Sports Legacy, Hometown Corporate Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility And Historic Preservation Efforts

This high-profile event will include wine and spirits with culinary delights plus guests will enjoy seeing Florida Panthers memorabilia and other collectibles from the exclusive Wayne Huizenga collection, which was donated to History Fort Lauderdale. A VIP ticket offer will include a behind-the-scenes tour of the newly revitalized War Memorial Auditorium including the Baptist Health IcePlex (underground/basement/ice making), locker room and other private areas.

"We are delighted to announce the Florida Panthers as this year’s esteemed History Makers,” said Patricia Zeiler, Executive Director of History Fort Lauderdale. “For more than three decades, the Florida Panthers have united the sports, business, media and philanthropic communities through their commitment and dedication to excellence. Their stewardship in overseeing the transformation of the historic War Memorial Auditorium into an exciting new entertainment and recreation hub and enhanced time-honored memorial for Broward County’s military veterans is unprecedented.”

Since taking to the South Florida ice in 1993, the Florida Panthers have established an unmatched legacy of award-winning sportsmanship, economic development, corporate philanthropy and civic responsibility.

According to the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority, the Panthers have impacted the local economy by at least $110 Million over the last two seasons during the team’s long playoff runs; a number that is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. As a catalyst for urban growth in the greater Fort Lauderdale area, the Florida Panthers have invested $100 Million into the construction of their official practice facility Baptist Health IcePlex with two NHL-regulation sized ice rinks and the recently revitalized historic War Memorial Auditorium, a 44,000 Square Foot Multipurpose Concert Venue. As part of the project, the Panthers renovated all veteran art and monuments around the venue (which has drawn visits from U.S. Presidents and celebrity icons from Buddy Holly to World Boxing Champion Héctor Camacho over the decades) including the merchant marine monument outside the venue, the red flags along the exterior walkway which represents soldier art, one plaque representing Broward County veterans that served in the Vietnam War and a second plaque representing those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation. Overlooking the main lobby from the top of the wall, patrons will find a soldier statue that was donated in the early 1970’s by Gold Star Mothers which is a group of mothers who lost a child or loved one during the Vietnam War. This statue is now located in a more prominent location inside the lobby and serves as a representation of all Broward County soldiers.

Philanthropically, the Florida Panthers Foundation is committed to making a positive impact on the South Florida community and beyond. The Florida Panthers Foundation was established to benefit the South Florida community by focusing on four priority areas: building the game of hockey for children and youth, supporting health and education initiatives for children, advocating for and supporting Veterans’ issues and raising awareness about the endangered Florida panther. The Foundation fundraises through several events and in-game initiatives that have helped them donate over $8 Million to local NonProfits in the South Florida community since the 2016-17 season. The South Florida community can visit: www.PanthersFoundation.org for more information on how to support.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition from History Fort Lauderdale as we aim to be stewards of our community through meaningful partnerships to make a lasting impact across South Florida,” said Panthers Chief Operating Officer Rob Stevenson. “One of the most important aspects to the revitalization was to preserve the historic 50-year-old legacy of War Memorial Auditorium, elevate the Broward County Veteran monuments and provide a first-class experience for guests attending events here.”

Previous honorees of the History Makers Fundraiser have included notable organizations and individuals such as The Miller Family of Miller Construction Company, Galleria Fort Lauderdale, Kelley Shanley, Ted Drum and the Drum, Clark and Cox families, Denison Yachting, the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, the Forman family, "Alligator Ron" Bergeron, City Commissioner Steven Glassman, developer Dev Motwani, H. Wayne Huizenga, Chris Evert and Jimmy Evert, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Winterfest, and Susan and Buddy Lochrie.

History Fort Lauderdale’s 29th annual History Makers is presented by Alligator Ron & Ali Bergeron, Miles & Tara Forman and Murphy Family Charitable Trust and is sponsored by Hudson Family Foundation, FPL, The Kelley Law Firm, Miller Construction Company, Waste Management, Sun-Sentinel and Hooper Construction.

Tickets are $125 each and are available for purchase online at: https://historyfortlauderdale.org/archives/7467. A limited number of VIP tickets will be offered for $250. For sponsorships or more information about History Fort Lauderdale, please call: (954) 463-4431. Or visit: https://historyfortlauderdale.org.

About The Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers enter the 2025 - 2026 Season as the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions, having gone to the Stanley Cup Final in each of the past three seasons. The National Hockey League’s southernmost team, the Panthers, have reached the postseason in a club-record six consecutive campaigns. The Panthers operate four facilities in Broward County, Florida: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, the Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs, the new state-of-the-art practice facility Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, as well as the renovated War Memorial Auditorium, which hosts concerts and events for the South Florida faithful. An organization with deep roots in the community, the Panthers are owned by Vincent J. Viola, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a veteran of the U.S. Army. Emphasizing a culture of selfless service both on and off the ice, the Panthers pillar program ‘Heroes Among Us’ honors a United States military veteran at every game and the Florida Panthers Foundation has four main focuses including Veterans affairs, children's health and education, raising awareness for the endangered Florida panther and growing youth hockey.

About War Memorial Auditorium

War Memorial Auditorium is South Florida's newest premier entertainment destination, located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale while still only minutes away from the city’s scenic beaches. The recently revitalized venue offers 44,000 Square Feet of versatile space with a 3,400-person capacity featuring a general admission floor and premium seated mezzanine level. Originally opened in 1950 and situated in the 93-acre Holiday Park, the venue combines historical significance with modern amenities, including state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. War Memorial Auditorium can host a diverse range of events, from concerts and performances to community gatherings, galas/dinners, graduations or reunions and more. For more information, visit: https://FTLWarMemorial.com. Follow us on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook at: @ftlwarmemorial.

History Fort Lauderdale

Since 1962, History Fort Lauderdale has been committed to preserving our collective heritage, promoting historical literacy, and fostering a sense of pride and stewardship for the vibrant tapestry of our region's history. Through dynamic exhibitions, engaging educational programs, and meaningful community initiatives, we strive to connect individuals of all ages and backgrounds with the stories, artifacts, and experiences that shape our shared past, present, and future. Guests to Fort Lauderdale are invited to explore the city’s rich past that is housed in historic buildings on a lushly landscaped campus - the History Museum of Fort Lauderdale situated in the 1905 New River Inn, the 1907 Pioneer House Museum, the 1899 Ivy Cromartie Schoolhouse Museum and the Hoch Research Library, South Florida’s foremost history center housing print resources and newspapers from 1910 - present plus 400,000 archival photos, 2,500 maps and 5,000 architectural blueprints. History Fort Lauderdale is located at 231 Southwest Second Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. Museum tickets are available online at: https://HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets. History Fort Lauderdale is a NonProfit Agency supported by Memberships, Grants and Charitable Contributions. For more information, call: (954) 463-4431. Or visit us online at: https://historyfortlauderdale.org. Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ftlhistory - And on Instagram: @ftlhistory. Subscribe to us on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/user/FTLhistory.