Greensboro Game A Reminder Of Hockey’s Growth In NC

RALEIGH, N.C. - When the Carolina Hurricanes arrived in Greensboro in 1997, it was mostly uncharted territory.

Minor-league hockey had enjoyed a few stints in the Gate City over the previous 40 years, but this was the National Hockey League, arriving in a temporary home before an arena in North Carolina's capital city was constructed.

Questions were, rightfully, abundant.

In addition to some skepticism about hockey's ability to exist at the highest level in the southern United States, there were hurdles that came with the franchise's quick relocation from Connecticut.

Practicing in Raleigh yet trekking 70 miles west on I-40 on game days wasn't optimal, but it was unique.

"We obviously knew (the situation) was a little different. I think everyone made the most of it," Hurricanes Assistant Coach Jeff Daniels, who was one of the few players who played with both the Hartford Whalers and the Canes upon arrival in Greensboro, reflected.

"It was kind of like a road game for both teams, you know? You're either driving in, or taking the bus, or going early, or getting a hotel the night before. It was just different."

Fan support was – to put it kindly – a work in progress. Averaging 9,106 and 8,187 fans during the team's two years at Greensboro Coliseum, the numbers were dead last in the NHL both seasons.

But you've got to start somewhere.

With the Canes putting down roots in the state ahead of the Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena's opening in the fall of 1999, the game began to grow.

Calling it an instant, overwhelming success would be a fabrication, but some fans loved the game, and some fell in love with the game because they had an opportunity to see players at the highest level in-person. Even if the numbers were small, the passion was evident.

"The crowd there was great. Once the puck dropped, it was just a game, just like anywhere else," Daniels continued. "There was fan support from Raleigh that would make the trip to Greensboro to watch us play, but (the state of hockey) has come a long way in North Carolina."

It certainly has.

The new arena in Raleigh saw the team's attendance swell from 8,000 in Greensboro to over 17,000 by the 2006-07 season, which, of course, was aided by the organization's first Stanley Cup the year before. Winning helps, and the roots that had been watered for the previous decade continued to grow deeper.

Youth hockey numbers blossomed, and the interest brought demands. In time, more sheets of ice surfaced, and second-generation fans were established.

"Having a team here in Raleigh builds interest from all people. They become fans, their kids want to play the game, and they become fans. I've seen that over the 30 years that hockey has been here," Daniels, whose first stint as an Assistant Coach was from 2003-2008, furthered down memory lane. "Minor hockey has really taken off. There are more rinks being built so that kids can play. Boys' and girls' programs have really, really taken off. It's a great area for the game."

Battling through some lean years during the 2010s, the organization's current upswing began during the 2018-19 season when Tom Dundon purchased the franchise.

A vote of confidence in Rod Brind'Amour as head coach proved to be a stroke of genius, and over the span of the past eight seasons, the team has not only solidified itself among the NHL's elite, but its support has become a figurative storm as well. Finishing inside the NHL's top ten in attendance in each of the last four seasons, the league also rewarded Carolina and the City of Raleigh with a Stadium Series contest in 2023 that brought over 56,000 fans to Carter-Finley Stadium.

And while the Hurricanes tout a sellout streak of 169 games at Lenovo Center and continue reaching new heights statewide, the ECHL returned to Greensboro for the 2025-26 season, bringing another professional hockey option to the Tar Heel State.

Now, just one year later, the Canes will return to their original N.C. home, hosting a preseason game at First Horizon Coliseum on Thursday.

"With us having an affiliation there, it's a smart thing to do," Daniels added. "I remember 30 years ago, that was kind of the norm. We never really played a home preseason game in our building because we were always going to these smaller places to try and grow the game. I remember years when, with Pittsburgh, we'd be going to Vegas and Portland, and all of these places to try to grow the game. It's kind of become a rarity now, but I like that we're doing it."

An opportunity to reach fans in a different portion of the state, the exhibition contest is both a nice touch and an effort from the Hurricanes to keep fans statewide engaged with the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

“We’ve always viewed the Hurricanes as a team for the entire state, and playing in Greensboro is another opportunity for us to live that out," Hurricanes Chief Marketing Officer Matt Sutor said. "There are a lot of Canes fans across the Triad who make the trip to Raleigh throughout the season, so being able to bring our team to them for the first time in over 25 years is really exciting, and the response in Greensboro has reinforced that."

Expecting a near-capacity crowd, there will be both nostalgia and a new era of Canes fandom felt throughout.

"There’s been a lot of excitement around the game, and we’re looking forward to seeing a building full of Canes fans this week," Sutor continued. "Ultimately, we want people throughout North Carolina to feel like this is their team, whether they live five minutes from Lenovo Center or a few hours away, and events like this are an important part of building that connection.”