A bell rings out on the sales floor. Matt Caldwell, the Florida Panthers’ new President & CEO, shouts “HooAh” and drops for 20 push-ups. The sales floor lets out a collective “HooAh” in response and cheers him on. It may be a small gesture to motivate the troops, but it creates a seismic shift permeating every layer of this team, from top to bottom. It’s at this point you realize, things are definitely different around here. Hockey in the South was, at one time, inconceivable. Until the National Hockey League (NHL) launched the Los Angeles Kings in 1967, the language of Hockey was seldom spoken South of the Mason-Dixon line. However, as the National Hockey League (NHL) expanded its influence into California, Texas,
Georgia and Florida in the early-1990’s, the literacy and enthusiasm of Southern crowds increased, spurred by aging fans retiring Southward and mentoring younger generations about the speed, excitement and nuance of the game.
Like many before him, Matt Caldwell grew into the game step-by-step. “I grew up in Staten Island,” he states with the slightest New York lilt and broad smile. “I skated here and there but never played official hockey.” Taking charge of a Florida Panthers team and Entertainment company now celebrating its 25 th season, Caldwell discovered commonalities between the blue-collar work ethic of hockey players and his own career as a combat officer in the US Army. “When I got out of the Army, I went back to business school and law school, then worked at a law firm and an investment bank. All very competitive environments, but not the same kind of energy where you roll up your sleeves. So, I find I fit in so much more in the sports world because I can connect with coaches and General Manager and players more. They come from a more physical base”. Fit from his Army days, Caldwell met and began managing investments for Vincent “Vinnie” Viola, whose
own Army and legal background provided common ground between the two men. “I’ve known the owners Vinnie and Doug [Douglas Cifu] for a while,” Caldwell says. “When they bought the Panthers I was a trusted person that they had on their team and they said ‘Would you want to go down to Florida for a couple weeks?’ That was 4 years ago and I never left.” The enthusiasm exuded from
these Army veterans create an energy and backbone which filters through every person in the Panthers organization now, from players and coaches, to salespeople, PR representatives and concessions vendors. “The military is very high tempo and very team oriented.” He notes. “[Like hockey] It takes blood, sweat and tears to become a professional. That’s the Army way.” Caldwell employs this
mentality while overseeing a vast and complex entertainment company with professionals both on and off the ice. Tuning the varied facets to compete at the highest levels is a challenge, but one relished by the former Army officer. Whether at a game or a concert at the BB&T Center he says, “I can’t be too relaxed. I have to make sure our fans are happy.” However, when Caldwell steps away from the BB&T Center, he is greeted by his fiancé Fernanda, a striking Brazilian attorney who is both completing their new home in Fort Lauderdale’s Rio Vista community and her LLM to practice law globally. “We just bought this beautiful home. Rio Vista is
very chill and relaxing. Nothing could be better than waking up on a Saturday morning, maybe getting in a workout without worrying about what is the next thing you’ve got to run to.”

Fernanda, a Brazilian attorney with whom Caldwell reconnected in a whirlwind romance just over a year ago, has provided a sense of home. “I’ve always been a work-centric guy, just slaving away at the office,” the avid cross-fitter says. “But since meeting her I see that there is so much more to life.”

While manicured, their tropical-modern home does not feel restrained or stodgy. Large, light-filled pace open spaces provide an oasis and respite from their up-tempo lives. Large Irish and Brazilian families chatter and bring life to the Caldwell home during weekends. “We both have large families. So, our house has a cocktail pool that’s T-shaped and comes right up to the living room. You can open up
the living room doors and the pool is right there.” Fort Lauderdale’s easy lifestyle and congenial air has provided a necessary salve for the pair’s hectic daily life. “I’ve lived in Germany when I was in the Army, lived in New York City, worked on Wall Street, went to grad school in Chicago. Big, big markets that are already saturated and have their history. Fort Lauderdale has more of a community. People really want to live here.” The Caldwell’s dual passions in activity and calm, family and solitude, business and pleasure, have found a home. Now that the pair is here, their combined vision is to see the Panthers and Fort Lauderdale as a whole reach the apex of business, sport and community involvement. “As Vinny once told me” Caldwell says, “’We can be a sports, entertainment and community leader’.” And, given the enthusiasm he approaches the new Hockey season, as well as his love and life here in South Florida, it is little surprise to have Caldwell raise a toast and give a hearty, “HooAh!”