Panthers host Stanley Cup Final watch party at FLA Live Arena

SUNRISE, Fla. --From the chants of "red" and "night" during the national anthem to the chants of "Bobby, Bobby, Bobby," it was pretty much like any other Florida Panthers game at FLA Live Arena on Saturday when the organization decided to throw a party to celebrate its first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1996.

For the first time in franchise history, the Panthers held a watch party at their arena, and the excitement surrounding the team was evident by the large crowd, which filled up the lower bowl and a good portion of the upper level as well.

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was shown on the gigantic scoreboard that hangs over center ice, and the crowd was just as loud and enthusiastic as if the action were taking place right in front of them. When Eric Staal scored the first goal of the Final, the crowd erupted and waved the pom-poms they were handed upon entering the arena.

Throughout FLA Live Arena, there were Panthers jerseys everywhere, perhaps even more than for a normal game, and they spanned the history of the franchise, from current stars like Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Sergei "Bob" Bobrovsky to past favorites like current team executive Roberto Luongo, Pavel Bure and Olli Jokinen.

Superfan Karen Gissin and her husband Steven came in wearing 1996 jerseys worn by then-captain Brian Skrudland and defenseman Paul Laus, complete with the Stanley Cup Final patch from that season.

That, of course, was the only other time in Panthers history the team reached the Final, which ended with a sweep at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche.

"I know we're going to win tonight," Karen Gissin said. "Also, it has been, what, 27 years since we got to this point? I was there then. And I'm gonna be here now to cheer them on."

Not every fan in attendance has cheered on the team for as long.

Nick Slane, for example, said he became a fan in 2016 when the Panthers qualified for the playoffs but were eliminated in the Eastern Conference First Round by the New York Islanders.

"This is a crazy hockey crowd," he said. "Man, we've been waiting so long we've been waiting for since '96 to relive this fantasy of ours of the Stanley Cup. It's crazy being out here with the fans and I love it. I love the atmosphere."

Indeed, it was the atmosphere that brought Panthers fans together Saturday.

The Panthers will have another watch party for Game 2 on Monday before the series shifts to Florida on Thursday. It will be the first Stanley Cup Final game at FLA Live Arena and, by the looks of it Saturday, the place figures to be rocking.