Glass Panel Breaks During Florida Panthers Game, Is Replaced by Cardboard?

You know what I’m sick of? Glass.

It’s in windows, plastered to our cars and constantly loitering around pro hockey rinks. The stuff is everywhere, and any geek off the street can walk up and look right through it. 

I’m tired of glass and its tawdry, transparent ways—and so are the Florida Panthers, it would appear.

A glass panel broke during the Panthers' Tuesday night matchup against the Detroit Red Wings. Instead of bowing to the status quo and replacing it with another clear and/or translucent panel, the maintenance staff started a revolution and used what appeared to be a big, wooden rectangle in its stead.

The strange sight was spotted by Samer Kalaf of Deadspin, and it initially appeared as though the Panthers had run out of glass and resorted to using plywood to replace the gap.

"

Preferable to watching the Panthers RT @ChiTownSports what the Panthers had to use to replace broken glass tonight pic.twitter.com/Zon0dNoakc

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) December 11, 2013"

"

Florida Panthers break their glass? We will just put a sheet of plywood there #logic

— Farmer (@BossDogLuke) December 11, 2013"

"

The Panthers just used the most ghetto shutter to replace a broken glass, it looks like Liberty City behind the Red Wings goalie

— Eric Lauzin (@Lauzin) December 11, 2013"

Further analysis indicates that the new panel was glass but was covered in protective cardboard. Apparently, the maintenance crew was unable to get the cardboard casing off the glass, leaving fans staring at a brown wall. 

"

I don't know what's more sad: that the Panthers couldn't get cardboard off a panel of glass or that it only obstructed the view of 2 people.

— Alex Cole (@colea77) December 11, 2013"

"

After placing a giant black-eye on themselves, the Florida #Panthers finally removed the protective cover from the new piece of glass.

— Ryan Hollett (@Crypticshock) December 11, 2013"

Indeed, sometimes the packaging on those giant, industrial panes of glass can be tricky.

The Panthers crew suffered a bit of embarrassment to be sure, but look on the bright side—they started a trend.

It’s hard to be the first through the door in stadium decor revolutions, and the Panthers should be applauded for not yielding to fan pressure or popular sentiment in their paneling decisions.

Also, the Panthers beat the Red Wings 3-2. So while many might've had a nice laugh at Florida's goofy panel, the joke is on them—that was rally cardboard.

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