How to watch the Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup championship parade this weekend
FORT LAUDERDALE — Fans are expected to flood the streets of Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday as the Florida Panthers are honored with a parade after they defeated the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup.
Panthers players have traveled across South Florida throughout the week to show off the Cup, as it was the first time in franchise history that they had won the coveted trophy.
During a press conference with high-ranking Fort Lauderdale officials on Friday morning, Mayor Dean Trantalis said the city expects a "couple hundred thousand" people to attend the celebration.
Here's everything you need to know about the Panthers championship parade:
How to watch the Panthers parade
The parade starts at 11 a.m. followed by a ceremony at 1 p.m. If you cannot make the celebrations, you can watch live coverage on CBS News Miami on Channel 4 and all of our streaming platforms beginning at 10:30 a.m. Fort Lauderdale officials said they "strongly encourage" you to arrive early, expect major traffic delays and make a travel plan now.
Where will the Panthers parade be?
The Cats will host their Championship Celebration at Fort Lauderdale Beach, beginning with a parade along State Road A1A. It will kick off on Riomar Street and end just north of Fort Lauderdale Beach Park at Southeast 5th Street, just across from Hotel Maren, where there will be a formal victory rally.
Panthers parade street closures, parking restrictions and transit
A1A will shut down between Riomar and SE 5th for the parade no later than 8:30 a.m. Sunday, and all cross streets along the parade route will also be closed during the celebrations.
If you're coming from the north, Sunrise Boulevard, Federal Highway and A1A do not have any scheduled lane impacts, but drivers should expect heavy traffic as they approach the event site. A1A and the associated detour south of Sunrise will be one lane in each direction all the way to SE 17th Street.
If you're coming from downtown streets, there are not any planned closures but drivers should still plan for heavy traffic and increased pedestrian activity, so drive with awareness. East Las Olas Boulevard between SE 15th and 25th Avenues will be reduced to one eastbound lane, as the second eastbound lane will be dedicated to walkers and bicyclists. If you're parking in downtown, plan on lengthy walks to and from the parade, or use a water taxi or ride-share service to get closer to the event.
If you're coming from the south, Federal Highway and SE 17th Street west of Eisenhower Drive do not have any planned lane closures but drivers should still expect heavy traffic. SE 17th will be reduced to one lane in each direction, starting at the 17th St. Causeway and heading north to Sunrise.
If you are walking to the parade, you can park at the following spots:
- Galleria Mall
- Birch State Park
- Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
- Las Olas Garage
- Downtown Las Olas Business District
Fort Lauderdale is also urging revelers to take a water taxi, which they're offering at a $15 fare for pickup at three spots:
- Riverside Hotel
- Hilton Marina on 17th
- Galleria Mall
Water taxi services begin at 7 a.m. Sunday, and parking will be available at the Broward County Convention Center, Downtown Las Olas Business District and Enhanced Water Taxi Service Docks 1, 4 and 7. Remember to buy your water taxi tickets ahead of time, Fort Lauderdale officials noted.
If you don't want to worry about driving, you can always bike to the event or use Broward County Transit as its services will be free in honor of the Panthers' win, CEO Coree Cuff Lonergan said.
The following options and routes will be available:
- Brightline & Tri-Rail
- BCT Routes 11, 36 and 40
Continuous Park 'n' Ride shuttle services begin at 7 a.m. and you can park at the Heron Parking Garage next to the Broward County Convention Center. BCT Buses will run on a continuous loop to the event site from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and back to the parking facilities from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The service will operate from the Broward Convention Center, which can be accessed from Eisenhower.
Travel by water taxi, carpool and Uber or Lyft are "strongly encouraged," according to the Panthers and Fort Lauderdale officials, as parking is expected to fill up fast and early.
Weather concerns for Panthers parade
An ocean breeze returns to South Florida over the weekend, which typically will keep showers over the east coast in the morning before they push inland as stronger storms in the afternoon. There is a chance a few showers will be near the coast in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday morning for the parade.
By Sunday morning, there will be a light east breeze with temperatures in the middle to upper 80s by noon. A few showers will be moving through the area, but by late morning, they will continue to develop inland and move away from the coast. Expect bright sunshine along the coast with highs near or just below 90 degrees throughout the afternoon.
It will be a warm and muggy afternoon but showers and storms should be confined to the interior by then. Fort Lauderdale officials reminded everyone during a press conference on Friday morning to make sure that they stay hydrated and protected from the sun with a hat, light clothing and sunscreen.
If lightning or high winds come through, officials said to immediately seek shelter.
