Carolina Hurricanes to host 2020-21 NHL Stadium Series outdoor game at NC State
The Carolina Hurricanes have hosted the Stanley Cup finals, an NHL All-Star Game and the NHL Draft in PNC Arena.
Now, the Canes are taking it outside.
An NHL Stadium Series game will be played at N.C. State’s Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, the league announced Saturday. The opponent for the night outdoor game has not been selected.
“We’re proud to be the first NHL market in the Southeast to host an outdoor game,” Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon said in a statement. “We’re going to do everything we can to make as many seats available as possible, because we know how high demand will be for this game, and the epic tailgate that will accompany it.”
The official announcement of next season’s game was made Saturday during the Avalanche’s Stadium Series game against the Kings at the Air Force Academy, and was contingent upon N.C. State’s approval of the NHL’s terms.
“It’s a testament to the great fan base that we’ve always known has been in the Triangle,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Saturday in a media conference call. “It’s great to see the community reengage in the way they have over the last season. There’s no doubt the fan base is passionate, connected, excited. And I think it’s a testament to the way the team is playing and the effort Tom Dundon and the organization have put into hockey in the Triangle.”
Bettman said Dundon, who became majority owner of the team in January 2018, was “relentless” in his pursuit of an outdoor game.
“He has been relentless but more importantly his main focus was, ‘I want to do this for the community, want to do this for the fans,’ ” Bettman said.
Ticket pricing and other game information will be released at a later date, Bettman said while noting, “All 30 outdoor games to date have been sold out. There’s no doubt that streak will be in effect through next season.”
Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Saturday that while he has never been a part of an outdoor game, he’d enjoy the opportunity to coach in one.
“I think the environment would be pretty cool,” Brind’Amour said. “I think it would be great for the area. Especially now, I think we’ve definitely turned the page here as an organization.
“I think the town, the city, is really behind us. I think we’re due for one.”
Gov. Roy Cooper likes the idea of a Stadium Series game, tweeting Saturday: “North Carolinians should be all in for the Canes outdoor game at Carter-Finley Stadium in the 2020-21 season. Great economic impact for the region and a lot of fun to boot. See you at the tailgate! — RC.”
Dundon and Don Waddell, the Hurricanes’ president and general manager, have been in constant contact with league officials about securing the game and in negotiations with N.C. State athletic director Boo Corrigan in securing Carter-Finley Stadium as the venue.
“We’ve been in lockstep with the Hurricanes from the start,” Corrigan said Saturday. “We think it’s a unique event that’s going to be great for N.C. State’s brand. Thanks to Tom and Don for pushing this through.”
The game has been in the discussion stages for several months, and the NHL has had several site visits at Carter-Finley Stadium, which seats more than 57,000 for football. The confines of the stadium should provide good sight lines for fans attending the game. As for the weather, it could be snowing or could be 60 degrees.
“We’ve had a lot of due diligence to do,” Bettman said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re in a traditionally cold climate. We’ve played games in Dallas and Los Angeles. All the boxes were checked (in Raleigh) and we’re absolutely comfortable this is going to be another great outdoor game for us.”
At the February meeting of the Centennial Authority, the PNC Arena landlord, it was mentioned that the Canes had requested between $200,000 and $250,000 to help host the game. It was believed the game would be played in February.
Waddell said in the written request to the authority that more than 50,000 people were expected to attend the game, and noted that other outdoor games have generated an economic impact of roughly $22 million. Waddell said there could have an even larger economic impact in that there would be plans for a “blockbuster concert” at PNC Arena the night before the game.
According to city officials, the NHL books about 4,700 hotel nights during the 10-day period before and after the game, and other outdoor games have had roughly 40% of those attending the game travel from outside the host city.
Waddell said gaining NHL approval for the game required the Hurricanes receiving financial commitments from local organizations and government to help offset the Hurricanes’ cost for presenting the game and concert. Waddell, in the letter to the authority, said the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau has committed $125,000 and that it was anticipated the bureau would increase that amount to $200,000.
The Stadium Series has been held since 2014, when seven teams participated in four games, the first at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Avs-Kings game Saturday was the 11th in the series, all held in late January, February or March.
The NHL has held a Winter Classic game on or close to New Year’s Day since 2008, and five Heritage Classic games have been played in Canada since 2003. This year’s Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, won 4-2 by the Stars over the Nashville Predators, had a crowd of 85,630.
“Obviously, it’s an experience you’ll never forget, the uniqueness of it,” said Canes defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, who played in both Winter Classic and Stadium Series games while with the Chicago Blackhawks. “Just being outside playing is pretty cool.”
NHL Stadium Series
2019: Philadelphia Flyers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3. Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. Attendance: 69,620.
2018: Washington Capitals 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2. Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Md. A: 29,516.
2017: Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Philadelphia Flyers 2. Heinz Field, Pittsburgh. A: 67,318.
2016: Minnesota Wild 6, Chicago Blackhawks 1. TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis. A: 50,426.
Detroit Red Wings 5, Colorado Avalanche 3. Coors Field, Denver. A: 50,095.
2015: Los Angeles Kings 2, San Jose Sharks 1. Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. A: 70,205.
2014: Anaheim Ducks 3, Los Angeles Kings 0. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles. A: 54,099.
New York Rangers 7, New Jersey Devils 3. Yankee Stadium, New York. A: 50,105.
New York Rangers 2, New York Islanders 1. Yankee Stadium New York. A: 50,027.
Chicago Blackhawks 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 1. Solider Field, Chicago. A: 62,921.
This story was originally published February 15, 2020 at 2:41 PM.
