1997-98 First Carolina Season

Lore & Background

The Hurricanes played home games in Greensboro, ninety minutes away from Raleigh, for their first two seasons after the move. This choice was disastrous for the franchise's attendance and reputation. With a capacity of over 21,000 people for hockey, the Greensboro Coliseum was one of the largest arenas in the NHL, but Triangle-area fans proved unwilling to make the drive down I-40 to Greensboro, and fans from the Piedmont Triad mostly refused to support a lame-duck team that had displaced the longtime Greensboro/Carolina Monarchs minor-league franchise. Only 29 out of 82 games were televised, and radio play-by-play coverage on WPTF was often pre-empted by North Carolina State Wolfpack basketball. With by far the smallest season-ticket base in the NHL and attendance routinely well below the league average, Sports Illustrated ran a story titled 'Natural Disaster,' and ESPN anchors mocked the 'Green Acres' of empty seats.

In Their Own Story

The ice at the RBC Center shimmered under bright lights as the crowd hushed for the opening face-off. Ron Francis stood tall at center, his jersey bearing the new hurricane logo. He looked out at the sea of red and gold in the stands, feeling the weight of history shifting from Connecticut to Carolina. The puck dropped, and the first chapter of a new story began.

Reader's Guide

The team did not play at the RBC Center in 1997-98; the arena opened in 1999. The Hurricanes played their first two seasons at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Did You Know?

• The Hurricanes played home games in Greensboro, ninety minutes away from Raleigh, for their first two seasons after the move.
• Only 29 out of 82 games were televised during the 1997–98 season.
• Sports Illustrated ran a story titled 'Natural Disaster' about the team's attendance issues.