Preparations underway for Panthers Stanley Cup victory parade and celebration in Fort Lauderdale
Preparations are underway for a parade and celebration rally this weekend on Fort Lauderdale beach after the Florida Panthers clinched their back-to-back Stanley Cup win by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the finals.
The 2025 Championship Celebration, which will take place Sunday, will kick off at noon with a parade along State Road A1A. It will start at Riomar Street and end just north of Fort Lauderdale Beach Park at SE 5 Street, across from Hotel Maren, where a celebration rally will take place.
On Tuesday, construction began on the stage for the event got underway.
Last year's parade drew more than 200,000 people who cheered the team through the rain and lightning.
With thousands expect to attend this year, now is the time to plan.
"We strongly encourage those attending to make a plan now, do not wait until Sunday. Please consider alternative methods of transportation, such as water taxis, train, rideshare and certainly bicycles," Fort Lauderdale police Chief Bill Schultz said.
Fans who plan to attend this year's celebration are urged to get there early since parking is limited and the garages are expected to fill up quickly.
"If you plan to drive, now is the time to think about where you're going to park. Parking is going to be extremely limited. The options to the north will be Galleria Mall, Birch State Park, the Bonnet House Museum and the Los Olas Parking Garage. That's it, that's very few spaces for the amount of thousands of individuals coming," Fort Lauderdale police Chief Bill Schultz said.
He said that they anticipate those locations will fill up early in the morning before the parade begins. So those planning on going need to make a plan.
Schultz said there are options not on the barrier island.
"Downtown we have several parking garages, those offer a $10 flat fee. From there you can easily walk, or even short bike ride or water taxi over to the barrier island. So downtown is highly encouraged," Schultz said.
Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi is already selling tickets to get to the beach from three locations; the Riverside Hotel in Las Olas, the Hilton Marina on the 17th Street Causeway and the GALLERYone on E Sunrise Boulevard near the Galleria Mall. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Schultz said do not wait because they often sell out.
To help keep pedestrians safe, traffic lanes will be cordoned off for them.
"From downtown, over the drawbridges, and onto the barrier island, one westbound lane of both E Sunrise Boulevard and E Las Olas Boulevard will be closed for the duration of the event to allow pedestrians to enter the roadway into those one lane options," Schultz said.
Special precautions are also being implemented for those bringing children to the event.
"We will have two tents set up where we will be issuing wristbands to your children. These wristbands will assist us in reuniting you with your lost or separated child. The tents will also serve as the reunification point. Should the child become lost, you would respond to those tents," Schultz said.
