Revealed
PANTHER TAMER
Who owns the Florida Panthers?
The team's first Stanley Cup victory was decades in the making
FOR SEVERAL years, the Florida Panthers were owned by Cliff Varner.
Eventually, he sold the Stanley Cup-winning team to Vincent Viola.
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Who owns the Florida Panthers?
Vincent Viola is the Florida Panthers' principal owner, governor, and chairman.
On September 26, 2013, the Panthers were sold to Viola.
Viola purchased the team for $240 million from Sunrise Sports & Entertainment and Cliff Varner.
"We understand the privilege of the stewardship that ownership of a sports franchise really means," the former announced at a press conference.
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"We don't really own anything. The players sweat and sacrifice their health in later years to do well on the ice, and to provide the right feeling and connection to the fans.
"It's about the players and the fans and our service to those two respective groups that will determine our success. I really, truly believe that.
"We understand that the fans are the be-all and end-all.
"We are committed to providing the resources to the Florida Panthers necessary to win a Stanley Cup."
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Born on February 12, 1956, Viola is an American businessman from Brooklyn, New York.
Previously, he was a chairman of Virtu Financial and the New York Mercantile Exchange.
He and his wife, Teresa, share three children and several grandkids.
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Who founded the Florida Panthers?
On December 10, 1992, the Florida Panthers were founded by Wayne Huizenga.
The late Huizenga was also the owner of the Miami Marlins and the Miami Dolphins.
On October 6, 1993, the Panthers played their first game, which was against the Chicago Blackhawks.
On October 9 of the same year, they scored their first victory by defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning.
How many times have the Panthers won the Stanley Cup?
On June 24, 2024, the Panthers won their first Stanley Cup.
To achieve this, they defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1.