The Florida Panthers have canceled their public event to receive Stanley Cup championship rings on Monday night due to worries about Hurricane Milton approaching the state.
Fans were invited to attend the event with a $20 donation, which would have supported the team’s foundation, the United Negro College Fund, and the United Way. Instead, players will now get their rings in a private ceremony on the same day, according to the team.
For now, the Panthers’ first regular-season game and Stanley Cup banner ceremony against the Boston Bruins is still set to take place on Tuesday night in Sunrise.
“As this event would take resources from first responders and service providers, we have made the tough decision to cancel our Champions Ring Ceremony out of an abundance of caution for the safety of all involved,” said Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell on Sunday night. “We will instead distribute our championship rings privately.”
Hurricane Milton grew stronger on Sunday, and forecasters predict it will become a major hurricane, possibly reaching the Tampa Bay area on the Gulf coast by Wednesday.
Much of that area is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, and Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties in Florida, including Broward, where the Panthers play, as well as neighboring Miami-Dade and Palm Beach.
DeSantis stated that the state is preparing for “a major disaster” in some regions.
The Panthers said they will keep in touch with state and local officials while continuing their plans to open the season on Tuesday.
“We are closely monitoring the situation,” Caldwell said, adding that the team “will continue preparing our arena and surrounding areas to safely welcome guests” for the opener.
