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Carolina Hurricanes: How to fill PNC Arena

By Omar Abdelgawad

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 22: Carolina Hurricanes fans lights the arena in honor of Hockey Fights Cancer during a game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on November 22, 2017. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 22: Carolina Hurricanes fans lights the arena in honor of Hockey Fights Cancer during a game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on November 22, 2017. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 24: Noah Hanifin
RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 24: Noah Hanifin /

Promote the Red, White, and Blue Line Defense

Speaking of popularizing players, the Canes have something unique about their Defensive players. Of the seven Defensive players currently on the roster five are from the good ol’ US of A.  To double down on that notion, our new starting goalie, Scott Darling, is also American. In a state that prides itself on its patriotism, home to several military bases, this is very marketable. The Carolinas host very prestigious military units. This includes the 82nd Airborne Division, 18th Airborne Corps, 1st Army Special Forces Command, the Marine Expeditionary Forces in Readiness, and the 4th Striker Wing. Representing a state(s) that has so much military history is a responsibility and an honor.

The Armed Forces

Defenseman Noah Hanifin and Justin Faulk have already jumped on this, introducing their “True Defenders” program honoring our men and women serving our nation. Hurricanes also feature a hero of the game and special discounts for military as well as military rush tickets. Yet fans who wear various shades of green to work have yet to come kicking in the doors of PNC and eating all food and drinking the place dry. This is because these promotions (outside of the free tickets) are only available at one place; the box office where IDs can be verified. This is inconvenient for troops who are unsure if they want to drive that hour from Lejeune or Bragg only to wait in line for possible tickets after they have paid $20 in parking.

FORT BRAGG, NC – AUGUST 06: Paratroopers in the First Brigade of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division parachute from a C-130 plane during a training jump August 6, 2010 at Camp Mackall, North Carolina. The First Brigade, which just returned from a year-long tour in Iraq, were required to take the parachute jump as part the 82nd Airborne regulations in keeping all paratroopers’ jump training current. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
FORT BRAGG, NC – AUGUST 06: Paratroopers in the First Brigade of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division parachute from a C-130 plane during a training jump August 6, 2010 at Camp Mackall, North Carolina. The First Brigade, which just returned from a year-long tour in Iraq, were required to take the parachute jump as part the 82nd Airborne regulations in keeping all paratroopers’ jump training current. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) /

Go to them

What can the Canes do to alleviate this? Sell tickets where the troops are. Each Service Branch has a leisure travel service that sells Tickets to events directly to the servicemember. The US Army has the MWR, Marines have Marine Corps Community Services. These organizations sell discounted tickets to service members on behalf of locations such as DisneyLand. Nothing motivates a fan to do a long trip for an event more than having tickets in hand. It definitely beats waiting in a long line filled with college kids who have been bussed to the game. These Fans will also spend plenty on food and drinks at the arena, as is tradition.

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