The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes compete in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference along with Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, and New York Rangers.
The Carolina Hurricanes play their home games at the PNC Arena in Raleigh (originally called Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena), which opened in 1999. The team originated in 1971 and were known as the New England Whalers, playing their home games at Boston Arena and Boston Garden. In 1974 they called the The Big E Coliseum their home for half a season before moving to the Hartford Civic Center Coliseum in Connecticut. During their time here they were renamed to the Hartford Whalers, before changing to the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997, when they also moved to the PNC Arena.
The PNC Arena has a capacity of 18,680 for ice hockey and is also home to the NCAA Division I’s men’s basketball team NC State Wolfpack. From 1999 to 2008 the arena hosted the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s men’s basketball tournament, and in 2005 hosted the Jeopardy College Championship. There are also concerts held here and in 2019 Metallica fans set a single-event attendance record of 20,052. Other concerts to see here include the likes of Carrie Underwood, Post Malone, and Bon Iver.