NHL will allow at least one team to have 5,000 fans in attendance to start the 2021 season

At least one NHL team will have fans in attendance when the puck drops on the 2021 season.

The NHL has reportedly allowed the Florida Panthers to have 25% capacity at the BB&T Arena in Sunrise, Florida to start the 2021 NHL season.

Check it out:

Cue the "biggest crowd in Panthers history" jokes...

In all seriousness though, this is a pretty big development for the NHL. Don't be surprised if Florida's other NHL team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, announce a similar arrangement before January 13th puck drop. Ditto for the Dallas Stars. For better or worse Florida and Texas are more or less "open for business" with distancing protocols in place.