dec-2017

34 35 ence for our fans. Currently,we are working with our partners at FP&L, Florida Power & Light, exploring the use of solar energy here to be a little bit more energy efficient.We will also be replacing our build- ing automation systemwithin the next fewmonths allowing us to better visualize and more efficiently control our facility.” The 872,000-square-foot BB&T Center can ac- commodate 25,000 people for center-stage con- certs, and 21,500 fans for Florida Panther hockey games while offering several private, luxury seating and dining options.The Corona Beach House offers all-inclusive food and beverage; Lord Stanley’s Loft encompasses approximately 8,000 square feet and caters to approximately 500 guests with a dive bar feel; Mardi Gras Jester’s Court offers fans another seating and dining option; and the Legends Lounge is a restaurant located on the Lexus Suite Level and offers sit-down service.“We built a new premium club, originally named Club Red, but a great partner of ours, Lexus, bought the naming rights and is now known as Club Lexus,”Embrey adds.“It’s a high-end, all-inclusive club located at center ice; when you purchase a ticket, it includes the option to valet park, plus all you can eat and drink–beer,wine, and soda–this premier club is well known throughout the South Florida Area as an ideal spot for enter- taining.” In a competitive market,where everybody is trying to book big acts and shows, Embrey says that the Center works hard to develop good relationships with promoters to “make sure that they understand what we’re capable of when they’re onsite.We want to make sure that they have the best event experi- BB&T CENTER ence possible,”he states.“And when we go to market an event,we want to let everybody know that our location is key. Some people think that our location might be a disadvantage because we’re not out east on the beach; we’re out west on the Everglades. But that’s actually an advantage because we have 7,000 onsite parking spots and we’re located centrally be- tween Palm Beach and Miami/Dade Counties with easy access to the highways.” Embrey adds that the Center’s current focus is to become “a good partner in the community,while building a positive culture in our organization.We finally got some stability over the last fewyears,” he says.“We’ve got a whole set of newvalues; a newmission and newvision of the direction that we want to head.Now,we want to get a good tie-in with the community, because that’s so important.A lot of our efforts and a lot of our marketing are tied to our fans and the community at large.We want to be a true asset to the community, both on and off the ice.You might not be a Panthers fan, but we’re going to help you out.That was really shown in our hurricane relief efforts.” According to Embrey, Broward County and the Florida Department of Children and Families have just used the building for D-SNAP (Disaster Supple- mental Nutrition Assistance Program) distribution, for families that lost food during the recent storms. “We gave the building to them rent free. People came and got their debit cards and got reimbursed for their food,”Embrey recounts.“Additionally we partnered with JetBlue and local food truck own- ers and offered free meals to those affected by the hurricane. A total of 20,000 free meals were served