Office Depot Center

The Office Depot Center (currently known a the BB&T Center) (previously known as the National Car Rental Center, and subsequently the BankAtlantic Center) is an indoor arena located in Sunrise, Florida. It is the home venue for the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Florida Panthers. It was completed in 1998, at a cost of US$185 million, almost entirely publicly financed, and features 70 suites and 2,623 club seats. Known as Broward County Civic Center during construction, the naming rights were won in July 1998 by National Car Rental—a company purchased by Huizenga in January 1997—leading to the venue being named the National Car Rental Center.[9] A certificate of occupancy was given on September 12, and the arena opened on October 3 with a Celine Dion concert. The next day, Elton John performed, and on October 9 the Panthers had their first home game at the new arena.[10] As NRC's new parent company ANC Rental went bankrupt in 2002, the Panthers sought a new sponsor for the arena.[11] It later became the Office Depot Center in the summer of 2002, and the BankAtlantic Center on September 6, 2005. As BB&T purchased BankAtlantic in July 2012, two months later the arena was rebranded as BB&T Center.[12][13] BB&T Center is currently the largest arena in Florida and second-largest in the Southeastern United States, behind Greensboro Coliseum. Seating capacity can be configured in teh following ways: *End stage 180°: 15,207 *End stage 270°: 19,119 *End stage 360°: 21,371 *Center stage: 22,457 *Theatre: 3,000 [1] Former names include: National Car Rental Center (1998–2002) Office Depot Center (2002–2005) BankAtlantic Center (2005–2012) BB&T Center (2012-Present)