A report by Stifel, Nicolous and Barrett Sports Group says the owners of the NHL’s Florida Panthers have had to inject $99 million into the team to cover losses for the team and BB&T Center, Forbes.com reported on Friday. Just two years ago a group led by Vincent Viola bought the Panthers, the arena’s operating rights and some nearby land for $160 million. Even the league’s recent Canadian television deal and new digital media agreement with MLBAM will not be enough to erase the team’s losses. That is why the Panthers are looking for an $86 million bailout from Broward County. The report makes the case for a taxpayer bailout. Its math shows the county would be $6 million worse off if the Panthers would leave based on the net difference between revenue and expenses for BB&T Center.
