Stadium Series Fan Fest draws thousands prior to Hurricanes-Capitals

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Sagar Patal showed pretty good form taking a few shots on goal. Using a stick and plastic ball, he pumped about 20 shots at the opening in the middle of a target.

"It's the first time I've ever touched a hockey stick. I got three of them in," he said. "It was fun to play around with it. It's different from playing baseball or golf. Getting that lift can be challenging."
Patal was among the thousands of fans at the Truly Hard Seltzer NHL PreGame fan festival Saturday prior to the 2023 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The 52-degree day brought fans early in the afternoon, many of them in line to pose for a picture with the Stanley Cup. Christopher Devlin was about 200 people deep on the sun-splashed afternoon, adorned in his Capitals jersey. He made the trip from Houston just to see the game.
"First time seeing the Cup," he said. "I think it's exciting just being around so many hockey fans. It's like a big family. It doesn't matter what jersey you're wearing. Everybody supports you, even people you haven't met. To see it at the outdoor arena, the way it's supposed to be played, it's going to be a great time."
Raleigh resident George Brown had his picture taken with the Cup, but he quickly pointed out that it wasn't the first time.
"There's so many trophies across all the different sports, but the Stanley Cup is the Stanley Cup," Brown said. "Everytime you see it, you understand the history behind it."
Ryan and Haley Martin made the three-hour trip from Charlotte on Friday. Their 8-year-old son, Aidan, began playing hockey 18 months ago, getting the family hooked in the process. The Martins made a nice haul at the merchandise tent. They came away with shirts, hoodies, a puck and a Stadium Series poster that they will frame for Aidan.
"He has a Carolina Hurricanes bedroom," Haley Martin said. "He plays four or five days a week, and we watch hockey all the time. We brought our camper up and we went downtown yesterday and came out here to check everything out."

All around the event, Carolina fans filtered out into the parking lots to complete their traditional pregame celebration. Tailgating, as in football, is a staple for Raleigh hockey fans. Anthony Squillini was kicking back with four family members. The veteran tailgaters put out a top-notch spread: barbecue and meatballs in separate crockpots, potato salad, desserts and, of course, drinks. He and his family were soaking in the sun, but also soaking in an event they won't soon forget.
"Just the excitement of it all, that it's something different that we'll probably never experience again," Squillini said. "And the warmth. Everybody is here for a good time."
As Patal fired his last shots on goal, his friend Brad Nobles made note of the ideal conditions for the first-time event in Raleigh.
"Just a perfect day, and it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Nobles said. "The money isn't even a thing. It's like going to the World Series. It may not come around ever again, so you've got to take advantage of it while it's here."