Due to inclement weather, the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) closed Wednesday’s game to the public, and went on to play with no fans in attendance at Bojangles’ Coliseum.
Severe winter weather in the Charlotte area forced the Checkers to make a drastic decision about their contest against the visiting Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Given the road conditions, the team decided to close the game to the public and move the start time up two hours to 5:00 p.m.
According to a Checkers spokesman, the team decided to close Bojangles’ Coliseum to the public to keep fans off the road, but proceeded with the game because Bridgeport was already in town after playing there Tuesday night. More from The News & Observer:
Checkers spokesman Paul Branecky said the team didn’t want to encourage fans to drive when officials are advising people otherwise.
“Staffing is also a concern (security, ushers, concessions, parking attendants), as is the condition of the parking lot itself,” Branecky told the Observer in an email.
“As for why we chose to still play the game as opposed to just postponing it, our opponent is already here (we played them last night) and it would be really difficult to have them come back for a single game at a later date.”
Wednesday’s game was not the first time that this has happened at Bojangles’ Coliseum, as the Checkers closed a 2016 contest against the Chicago Wolves to the public due to a winter storm. Wednesday’s game ended in victory for the Checkers, who prevailed by a final of 4-3.
