Sounds of silence for Florida Panthers vs. Nashville Predators

Top three reasons why (almost) no one showed up at the early Florida Panthers-Nashville Predators preseason game Monday afternoon at the Panthers home rink, the BB&T; Center in Sunrise, Fla.

1) Not yet snowing significantly in Canada. The snowbirds don’t need to come to Florida for a few more weeks.

2) Truly compelling kickball game in a nearby park.

3) Grass-roots protest of pending arrival of goalie Tim Thomas, who accepted a professional tryout invitation.

Kidding aside, there were valid reasons why there was the sad vision of empty seats, duly noted by Deadspin and multiple blogs, originally tweeted by Erin Brown of Fox Sports Florida:

The game started in the middle of the afternoon and it was the first of a preseason doubleheader between the teams. The second game was at night.

One of the beat reporters messaged on Monday afternoon and said he thought there were eventually about 1,000 spectators at the first game.

But it has been pointed out that rosters are glutted this time of the preseason and it gave the scouts/coaches/staff for Nashville and Florida an excellent opportunity to evaluate the prospects.

Hey, each scout could get his own section on Monday!

Anyhow, it’s best to check back in October. The early dates to circle on the regular-season schedule are Oct. 11 (Pittsburgh) and Oct. 22 (Chicago). If the Panthers don’t have great crowds for those games, well, then there really is an issue.

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