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Carolina Hurricanes: Raleigh is Ready for Outdoor Hockey

By Zac Hynus

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 23: Fireworks are seen prior to the 2019 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers at Lincoln Financial Field on February 23, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 23: Fireworks are seen prior to the 2019 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers at Lincoln Financial Field on February 23, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 30: Team Staal looks on during the awards ceremony concluding the 58th NHL All-Star Game at the RBC Center on January 30, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Team Lidstrom won 11-10. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 30: Team Staal looks on during the awards ceremony concluding the 58th NHL All-Star Game at the RBC Center on January 30, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Team Lidstrom won 11-10. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /

History of NHL Events

Raleigh is no stranger when it comes to hosting big events for the NHL, and every time the Carolina Hurricanes vastly exceed the expectations of sceptics from across the league.

In 2004, Raleigh hockey fans got their first taste of an bigtime NHL event when they host the 2004 NHL Draft. The two-day long event was a massive success with thousands, including myself, filling  the then RBC Center. The event was so successful that Gary Bettman even promised to bring the NHL All-Star Game to Raleigh in the near future.

Due to the ownership crisis with the Arizona Coyotes at the time, Gary Bettman lived up to his promise and decided to move the 2011 All Star Game from Phoenix to Raleigh. Not only was it the first NHL All Star Game in North Carolina, but the first under a new format for the All Star Game that turned the usually two-day event to a three-day extravaganza including the players draft, skills competition, and the All Star Game.

Now, it is time for the NHL Stadium Series to make its way down to the land of the pine.

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