Carolina Hurricanes Testing for Outdoor NHL Game at Carter-Finley Stadium

RALEIGH – Since hockey got its start, of course, outdoors on frozen lakes and ponds, most NHL teams have paid tribute with outdoor games. One team that hasn’t — and for seemingly obvious reasons — is the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes NHL franchise has had a lot of success, but it’s home in Raleigh is not necessarily conducive to outdoor ice hockey. That could all change, however, according to reports that the league could be prepping for an outdoor game at the Carter-Finley football stadium, home of the NCSU Wolfpack.

Cones set up at Carter-Finley. My guess is about 200 feet long and about 85 feet wide… pic.twitter.com/gkJvU4v6HA

— Dennis Cox (@TheFanRookie) November 25, 2019

Sources told me the NHL is in town today (hence the cones at Carter-Finley) and they are ironing out plans for Raleigh to get an outdoor game. One source said it could come together quickly.

— Cory Lavalette (@corylav) November 25, 2019

According to Yahoo!Sports, North Carolina may have been a rich target for the NHL outdoor games for a while.

“[…] Even NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has previously acknowledged the opportunity that North Carolina has in hosting this type of event.

“Yes, we are taking it very seriously and looking at the possibility,” he told The News & Observer in Feb. 2019.

With no announcement yet, it’s mostly rumours, and Bettman made sure that there was nothing official in place.

“I don’t want to mislead anybody or say anything or promise anything until I’m sure,” continued Bettman earlier this year. “We have some more work to do, we have a variety of arrangements to make. As important as anything else, if we decide we want to do it, I have to make sure it’s OK with N.C. State.” […]”

Well, it looks like those arrangements are in motion, judging by them plotting out the ice rink at Carter-Finley. Fan accounts of Hurricanes games already place them in a high energy category, so a football stadium full of North Carolinians for a hockey game should be great event. You can follow the new here for announcements and possible tickets.