Cardiac Cane
Fansided

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 – SEPTEMBER 29: Carolina Hurricanes fans during the 3rd period of the Carolina Hurricanes game versus the Washington Capitals on September 29, 2017, at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – SEPTEMBER 29: Carolina Hurricanes fans during the 3rd period of the Carolina Hurricanes game versus the Washington Capitals on September 29, 2017, at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Pump up the fun in PNC

Now here is something that the Canes have been seriously lacking. How to have fun regardless of the events unfolding on the ice. Outside of special events such as Star Wars Night or Social Media Night, there is very little engagement with the fans. Fans roaming the halls to find their seats won’t find much more than the usual concessions. Fans who show up early to tailgate before the game end up tailgating alone in the cold. There used to be events which happened by the box office between PNC and NC State football stadium. There fans of all ages could participate in fun events before going in to watch the game. Sadly these events have yet to return this season. How else can the Canes pump up the fun and get the fans engaged in the sport of Hockey?

Think Baseball

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA – AUGUST 26: The Southeast team from North Carolina and the Southwest team from Texas line up during the national anthem ahead of the US Championship of the 2017 Little League World Series at Lamade Stadium on Saturday, August 26, 2017 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA – AUGUST 26: The Southeast team from North Carolina and the Southwest team from Texas line up during the national anthem ahead of the US Championship of the 2017 Little League World Series at Lamade Stadium on Saturday, August 26, 2017 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

The Carolinas, as well as southern Virginia is Baseball land. Don’t let the lack of Major League Baseball teams fool you. There are around 30 AAA and lower baseball teams in these states with most of them being in NC. Baseball doesn’t have the same level of excitement that hockey has to offer. This forces teams to fill the lulls in between innings with fan engagement. This involves letting the fans know that the team cares about them. In comparison to a Major League Hockey team, baseball teams in NC don’t have much when it comes to budget, however, they have plenty to offer their fans when it comes to the experience. Stormy and the Canes should probably go to several Durham Bulls Games next door at the DBAP and take notes from Wool E. Bull and their fan development teams.

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