Latest news with #MattCaldwell
Miami Herald
26-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Winter Classic prep, season tickets, arena upgrades keeping Florida Panthers busy
While the Florida Panthers were busy on the ice during their run to a second consecutive Stanley Cup title, Matt Caldwell was equally as busy behind the scenes. There's a lot on the plate of the team's president and CEO. In addition to handling the business side of things on the playoff run — including the eventual parade that took place last weekend on Fort Lauderdale Beach that reportedly cost more than $2 million — Caldwell had a slew of other operational duties to take care of. Continued preparation for the 2026 Winter Classic, set to be held at Miami's loanDepot park on Jan. 2. Season-ticket renewals. Upgrades to Amerant Bank Arena that are about to get underway for next season. 'It's a good problem to have,' Caldwell told the Miami Herald earlier this month, while the Panthers were still in the midst of their Stanley Cup Final series with the Edmonton Oilers that they won in six games to secure their second consecutive title. Fortunately for Caldwell, the Panthers being on extended runs like this have become common. This year marked Florida's third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Florida also hosted the All-Star Game in 2023 ahead of their first Cup Final run and had the trip to Finland this regular season as part of the NHL's Global Series. That year-over-year experience, Caldwell said, has helped him learn to manage all the moving parts that come with his job when his team has an elongated postseason run and multiple priorities to handle at any given time. He has a good support group to lean on as well, mentioning chief revenue officer Shawn Thornton and chief strategy officer Mark Zarthar among people he has been able to delegate responsibilities to in order to better manage this busy stretch that now also included planning to host one of the league's biggest annual events in the Winter Classic in just more than six months. 'These last three years, it feels like one gig, you know, one big year altogether, like nonstop,' Caldwell said. 'It really feels like one big dream. ... These big events, these tentpole marquee events that the NHL has, we're blessed to participate in them. I think if we didn't have the experience of the last three years, it would be tougher as we can prepare for the Winter Classic.' Where things stand with Winter Classic prep As for specifics of those preparations, the league has already visited loanDepot park four times, including between Games 3 and 4 of the Cup Final when the series was in Sunrise, to begin surveying the stadium and get initial preparations done for the game between the Panthers and the Rangers. Steve Mayer, president of NHL events and content, and Dean Matsuzaki, NHL executive vice president of events, said the real ramp-up to getting specifics for the Winter Classic in order will come following the NHL Draft, which takes place in Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday. 'This summer will be a big, busy time for us,' Matsuzaki said. 'We're at a fairly good spot with the visits we've done so far to understand some of the real key operational pieces, like where the ice truck is going to go and how we're going to run the piping to the floor, where the route for the Zamboni to get to the ice will be. Once we have that in place, then we can start layering on some of the pageantry and things like that and the entertainment.' The Panthers' Winter Classic will be the first of two outdoor games held in the state during the course of a month, with the Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Stadium Series against the Boston Bruins on Feb. 1 at Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There is a 'slight advantage,' Mayer said, in terms of preparing for the Panthers' outdoor game than the Lightning's because loanDepot park has the retractable roof. 'We'll be risking just a little bit when we open [the roof] up,' Mayer said, 'but we are doing a night game. We are playing [at a time of year that's] probably an ideal weather for the ice. You never know if there's gonna be a heat wave. You never know if it's gonna be pouring down rain, all of the above, but we feel pretty confident. And what a beautiful ballpark. It's amazing.' Caldwell said that sometimes he still has to pinch himself to know that what's going on is actually happening. Even just a few years ago, before this current run of success, the Panthers struggled to fill the arena during the season. They had gone nearly two-and-a-half decades in between winning playoff series. Now, they're on top of the hockey world. 'It certainly is real,' Caldwell said. More Panthers updates And that has led to some real changes that the team has had to make. That included increasing season-ticket prices, a move that Caldwell said was necessary after the team's consistent success and the fact that they had kept prices low relative to the rest of the league for so long. And while not everyone was happy about the decision — 'I don't think people were cheerleading us; there were definitely a lot of questions and feedback,' Caldwell said — more than 90 percent of season-ticket holders renewed for next season, Caldwell said, adding that the wait list for potential new season-ticket holders is almost at capacity as well. The Panthers did a town hall with Caldwell, coach Paul Maurice and president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito in January to explain the reasoning behind the price increase. 'You guys have been so loyal to us and we've kept pricing low for a very long time,' Caldwell said. 'We explained that many people will be getting, at least on a percentage basis, a pretty steep increase but when you step back and look at the rest of the NHL, given our team performance and given the demand for tickets, our average ticket price was still in the bottom five of the league. I think people understood the logic.' The team is also in the process of upgrading the arena for the start of next season. The team's scoreboard at center ice, which has been in place since 2013, is being replaced, as are the LED ribbon boards throughout the arena. Additionally, a portion of the the 300-level of the arena will go through a makeover as well. About 1,400 seats will be removed to create a viewing deck similar to what the Tampa Bay Lightning constructed in 2011. Caldwell said that area will be able to fit about 800 people, so arena capacity will drop to about 18,650 once it's complete. 'I think the fans will be excited to see the upgrades next year,' Caldwell said.
Bloomberg
13-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
How NHL's Panthers Turned South Florida Into a Hockey Hotbed
Matt Caldwell still remembers the number: 2,767. That was the number of season ticket holders for the Florida Panthers NHL team after he took over as chief executive officer some nine years ago. Caldwell, a 45-year-old West Point alum who worked at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. for nearly four years after serving in the military, started at the Panthers in 2014 as chief operating officer. By the time he was promoted to the CEO role in 2016, one of the youngest in US professional sports at the time, about 80% of those visiting the 19,250 seater arena were rival fans.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Panthers President Turns Heads With Ticket Comments
Panthers President Turns Heads With Ticket Comments originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Florida Panthers took down the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, evening the best-of-seven series. Once again, the game went into overtime, but this time, Florida was able to silence the Oilers crowd. Advertisement Now the series will be heading back to Florida for Games 3 and 4, giving the Panthers a slight edge. They have taken back home ice from Edmonton and will be looking to do some damage in front of their loyal fans. But following the Game 2 win, Panthers president Matt Caldwell was asked about the plan for next year's season tickets. Caldwell revealed that the team has already renewed around 92 percent of the tickets, but that the team is being mindful of the average fan. 'On a percentage basis, we did a big increase, but we still were mindful of the loyal season-ticket base that's been with us,' Caldwell said. '… The bottom line is, we're pacing to sell out of season tickets well before next season. We'll probably do it over this next month or so.' Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) reacts after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Nelson-Imagn Images Caldwell understands that the fanbase deserves to come to games without it completely breaking the bank. But it's still a business at the end of the day, and the Panthers are trying to tiptoe the line. Advertisement But as the Panthers continue to find massive success in the playoffs, it becomes harder for the team to keep costs down. 'It's definitely the best time in the history of the franchise,' Caldwell said. 'I think there's no doubt about that. We're humble about it, but we hope it's not the peak. … We want to keep winning and keep selling out and keep winning awards.' The Panthers sold out its season tickets this past season for the first time, showing the strong interest in hockey down in the state. But another run to the Stanley Cup should only further help things. While the team is looking ahead to the offseason, the main focus is on the current playoff series. Game 3 between the two teams is set for Monday, June 9, at 8 p.m. ET. Related: Panthers' Brad Marchand Receives Eye-Opening Free Agency Prediction This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kellogg Launches Veterans Program Honoring Stanley Cup-Winning CEO Alum
Florida Panthers CEO Matt Caldwell, Kellogg MBA Class of 2010, celebrates after his team won its first-ever Stanley Cup in a thrilling Game 7 finish in June 2024. The Panthers are vying for a repeat this spring Kellogg is putting serious weight behind its commitment to military veterans — with a program that carries the name of one of its own. Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management has launched the Matt Caldwell Veterans Program, a comprehensive initiative aimed at attracting, supporting, and connecting military veterans throughout their MBA journey and beyond. Named after Matt Caldwell, a decorated U.S. Army veteran and 2010 JD-MBA graduate who now serves as president and CEO of the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers, the new program is one of the school's most visible investments yet in veteran talent. 'Veterans come to Kellogg with valuable experience in leadership, teamwork and the ability to thrive in an uncertain environment,' says Kellogg Dean Francesca Cornelli in a news release. 'As students, military veterans bring their unique background into the classroom, with a strong work ethic and desire to learn and lead. We are proud to expand the resources we offer to these important members of our community.' Caldwell's path — from West Point and military deployments in Iraq and Kosovo to the helm of a professional hockey franchise — makes him a fitting namesake for the program. A former Army captain, Caldwell earned a Bronze Star Medal along with several other honors before enrolling in Kellogg's joint JD-MBA program with the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. In 2016, he became the youngest CEO in professional sports at age 36, taking over the Florida Panthers and leading a dramatic transformation of the team's business and performance. Under his leadership, the Panthers have seen record-breaking growth in ticket sales, sponsorship revenue, and media viewership — culminating in back-to-back Prince of Wales Trophies and the franchise's first-ever Stanley Cup win in 2024. (The team is currently vying for a repeat, competing in the Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes; they won Game 1 on May 20.) Caldwell credits his Kellogg education for helping him make the leap. 'I'm deeply honored by Kellogg's recognition and thrilled to see their strong commitment to supporting servicemembers as they transition to civilian careers through this new veterans program,' he says in a news release from the school. 'The Kellogg curriculum was instrumental in my own development after retiring from the military, and I hope this initiative inspires more veterans to pursue enrollment at Kellogg.' The new program will build on existing veteran-focused offerings at Kellogg, including access to career education, job interview prep, and a dedicated veterans association that supports students through the admissions and recruiting process. In recent years, Kellogg has secured over $6.2 million in philanthropic support for veteran scholarships, including the Janet and Craig Duchossois Veteran Scholarship Fund and other alumni-backed gifts, and offers dedicated admissions guidance, resume support, and career coaching tailored to military backgrounds. Kellogg also supports veteran families through the Joint Ventures Club and provides full-time students with access to on-site mental health services. The Matt Caldwell Veterans Program will take that foundation further. New offerings include expanded scholarship support to lower financial barriers for military applicants. It will also enhance veteran alumni engagement through mentorship and networking events. In addition, Kellogg will launch a newly formed Kellogg Veterans Council, bringing together prominent alumni to advise the program's growth. DON'T MISS and The post Kellogg Launches Veterans Program Honoring Stanley Cup-Winning CEO Alum appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Contract dispute could impact thousands needing medical attention
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – UnitedHealthcare members in South Carolina could soon lose access to treatment and doctors at Bon Secours due to a contact dispute. Bon Secours and UnitedHealthcare have a contact that is set to expire July 1. Both said they are at opposite ends of the bargaining table, requiring to continue working with each other. Come July 1, if an agreement is not reached between the companies, the two will no longer continue services as part of an in-network option for patients. This would mean if patients still wanted to see there Bon Secours doctor under UnitedHealthcare's insurance, they could, but would pay out-of-pocket and at a much higher cost. Bon Secours said they have been in negotiations since January, and around 30,000 patients will be impacted if an agreement is not reached. Both companies said the other is asking too much. 'We've made repeated efforts to secure a fair agreement that reflects today's health care environment, but UnitedHealthcare continues to underpay compared to market standards,' said Matt Caldwell, President, Bon Secours Greenville market. Bon Secours said they are working towards an agreement that would allow them to continue providing high quality care to patients, but UnitedHealthcare said that the rate they are asking them to pay them is too high. 'Bon Secours St. Francis is seeking a price increase of nearly 32% for our commercial plans over the next three years, along with a substantial rate hike for our Medicare Advantage plans, which would make them the most expensive in our South Carolina network.' said Trasee Carr, Corporate Communications with UnitedHealthcare. Through four months of negotiations, both companies state they are only looking out for the best interest of their patients. 'We are committed to doing everything possible to avoid any network disruption,' said officials at Bon Secours. They called out UnitedHealthcare, saying their unwillingness to collaborate threatens to disrupt care for thousands of patients. 'Our top priority is to reach an agreement that remains affordable and ensures continued access to the health system,' UnitedHealthcare responded. 'We hope Bon Secours St. Francis shares our commitment and collaborates on solutions that South Carolina families and employers can afford.' At this time, it is unclear if either party is willing to come closer to fulfilling what the other is asking of them. UnitedHealthcare tells us they proposed an offer to Bon Secours to extend their current contract through July if negotiations are still ongoing, however they said Bon Secours refused that offer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
