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Hurricanes Aim to Host 2021 NHL Stadium Series Game

The Carolina Hurricanes are seeking to host a 2021 NHL Stadium Series game at Carter-Finely Stadium, and are working to secure funds for the effort.

Currently, the Hurricanes are working on a plan to host an outdoor game next year at Carter-Finley Stadium, the home of North Carolina State’s football program. As part of that process, the organization has submitted a request to the Centennial Authority–its landlord at PNC Arena–for $200,000 to $250,000 in funding to assist in the effort.

Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell pointed to some potential benefits in a letter to the authority, including plans for a major concert at PNC Arena the night before the game and a roughly $22 million economic impact generated by other NHL outdoor games. The authority’s decision is likely a few months away, though officials seem open to the request at this point. More from the News & Observer:

Waddell said that prior to the NHL approving the game, the Hurricanes must obtain financial commitments from local organizations and government to help offset the Hurricanes’ cost for presenting the game and concert. Waddell, in the letter, said the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau has committed $125,000 and that it was anticipated the bureau would increase that amount to $200,000.

Waddell said the funds from the Centennial Authority would help in obtaining funding from such sources as the State of North Carolina, Wake County, City of Raleigh and the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

Tom McCormick, the authority chairman, has referred the Hurricanes’ request to the authority’s finance committee for review. He said Thursday that a vote on the request could come at the authority’s April meeting.

“There are several benefits,” McCormick said in an interview. “One, it benefits the Hurricanes, and pretty much anything that benefits them benefits the building because their profile rises and it gets more people to come and see them play (at PNC Arena). Maybe (fans) will go over there (Carter-Finley Stadium) having never seen a hockey game before and they’ll come here. So it benefits that way.”

The hosting team of the 2021 NHL Stadium Series would follow the Colorado Avalanche, who will stage the 2020 edition at the Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs. That game, featuring the Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings, will take place on Saturday. One confirmed venue for an outdoor NHL game in 2021 is Target Field, home of MLB’s Minnesota Twins, which is slated to be the site of the Winter Classic on January 1 in a contest hosted by the Minnesota Wild.

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