Thursday, August 18, 2005

I'm a Caniac, a CAN-I-AC on the floor...

I am, as of this very moment, the proud holder of season tickets to a National Hockey League team – in this case, the Carolina Hurricanes. That’s right, I am officially a Caniac.

Never heard of Caniacs? You’re not alone, even if you live right here in the Carolinas. The Carolina Hurricanes franchise, which relocated to the Carolinas from the perplexingly still-rabid hockey hotbed of Hartford CT back in 1996, enjoys the second-or third- poorest fan-support in the league, averaging just over 12,000 fans per game in the season prior to the lockout. This, despite an improbable appearance in the Stanley Cup finals versus the loathsome (and much, much better) Detroit Red Wings just three seasons ago AND an exceptionally high level of coverage from local media.

But for some reason, the folks calling for league-wide contraction usually leave Carolina off the list of franchises they feel should be removed from the league. I think it’s because the team is making money, despite low attendance. That, and Raleigh enjoys the highest degree of loyalty from players of all the new-south teams. Guys that come here to play often continue to live here even after they leave to play for other teams. They maintain a high profile in the community, working with kids at the numerous (for a southern city, anyway) ice sheets that are scattered about town. Bates Battaglia, for instance, owns and operates a bar near downtown Raleigh. He actually works behind the bar. In what other NHL city can you go to a bar and expect to rub shoulders with a real NHL player (albeit one who's currently not signed), one who will actually talk to you and sign your coaster and treat you like a normal person? It happens every day here in Raleigh.

I also think team ownership understands the kids who go to games with their parents today (you can be sure Logan will go to his share of games over the next few years) will become the die-hard fans of tomorrow. Kids here – many of whom are the children of relocated yankee hockey fans to begin with – love hockey. Youth hockey programs here are bursting with participants (one team played in the Pee Wee national finals for their age group last winter – the best showing by a southern team ever) and these kids love their hometown Carolina Hurricanes. They go to the games with their parents now, but in ten to fifteen years they'll have the disposable income to become season ticket holders themselves. The Hurricanes see this trend developing and have the patience to let the new fans develop organically.

The Canes are also extremely fortunate to play in the RBC Center, which was constructed for NC State basketball, but which turns out to have the sightlines and comfort level of a world-class hockey arena. I love going to games there, and just couldn’t turn down a 24-game season ticket package for two seats in the lower bowl, in the corner on the Canes offensive end, seats 1 and 2 so it’s easy to get to the bathroom, for $42 apiece. That’s more expensive than the $17 (with a student ID) I paid for similar seats back when the Canes were playing in Greensboro (which they did for two years while the RBC Center was being constructed), but still a bargain compared to what folks are paying in other NHL cities.

Because of the East vs. West scheduling protocol that was imposed by the league a few years ago to “build regional rivalries” (but which was really more about reducing travel expenses), I won’t get a chance to see my beloved Colorado Avalanche this year. I’m OK with that. I get to see some exciting up and coming talent instead. And with the parity forced by the new salary cap, the Canes should be no less competitive than any other team in the league. This is going to be a great year for hockey fans. I’m psyched to be a part of it.

posted by Bill Purdy, 8:38 AM

4 Buffaloes were bitter enough to post comments:


Blogger Pat Angello, said:
You get Pittsburgh and Philly, bastard! We finally, after 7 years, get Toronto coming to CO! WOO! The only eastern teams we get here are BUF, BOS, OTT, MON, TOR.

New schedule is strange. Avs play in NYR, NJ, NYI, PIT, Philly.

And WTF with OLN buying the NHL TV contract?

Can I use more abv's?
...on August 18, 2005 9:44 AM  

Blogger Bill Purdy, said:
I love your abv's! Have you been doing crvnches?
...on August 18, 2005 9:59 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous, said:
A little known fact about me... I grew up a total rink rat. And being that I'm of Canadian descent born and raised right outside of Hartford, CT, I was a HUGE Whaler fan all my life. Even back in the WHA. Even through the years when we had no coliseum in Hartford for the team to play at due to a 1980 roof collapse of the Hartford Civic Center. My family and I would drive the hour up to Springfield, MA for the games. My dad was a prez of the Hartford Whalers Booster Club. We had rookies staying at our house during pre-season, and dad used to golf with Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull. When he was a Whaler rookie, I went on a date with the now Carolina Hurricane team captain Ron Francis... one of the kindest hockey players a fan could meet. I have books upon books of autographs, and boxes upon boxes of memorabelia... including Goal and Blue Line (WHA) magazines, pucks, photos, shirts, jackets, sticks (and pieces thereof), and a record of the Hartford Whalers theme song... the only team ever to have their own march song composed for them. (Why don't more teams do that??) And yes, Hartford lost their team due to poor management and lack of fan base. The tickets just got too expensive for the Hartford public to afford (contrary to popular belief, not everyone in CT is country club rich), and the area fans just were not entrenched enough to support the team win or lose. Except for my family that is. We had season tickets right up to the end.

And then I discovered punk rock and had a whole new obsession.
...on August 18, 2005 11:12 AM  

Blogger Bill Purdy, said:
I hate to break it to you, Na, but Ron Francis left the Canes during the 2003-04 season, which he finished out playing for the grammatically challenged Toronto Maple Leafs (and his original home team). After that season, I think he retired. I'm pretty sure he and his family still live here in the Raleigh area though, as he's often quoted in News & Observer articles. You're right on one thing about him for sure: he's the epitome of the classic hockey player -- humble, freindly, and a passionate & well-spoken promoter of the sport (& a 3-time Lady Byng Trophy winner, which is given each season to "the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability").

If only professional athletes in other sports could be that way. Does the NFL have a Lady Byng equivalent sportsmanship trophy? How about basketball? Baseball? I thought not.
...on August 18, 2005 11:54 AM  

Add a comment