The NHL Board of Governors are meeting this week, and within the last few hours Carolina Hurricanes Owner Peter Karmanos and potential buyer Tom Dundon presented their plan of sale to the group. According to Gino Reda of TSN who spoke with the two men, a decision on the sale should be made by the afternoon. The NHL has previously made it clear that no sale would go through without a commitment that the team will stay in Carolina for the time being, something that Dundon was more than willing to accept. Relocation is not on the table at this time, despite some struggling attendance numbers in Raleigh.
Dundon, a billionaire from Dallas, could represent a financial boost for the Hurricanes as they look to enter their competitive window. Loaded with young talent all over the roster, the team has never spent much more than the cap floor since it was introduced. Obviously, a new owner doesn’t necessarily mean raised budgets but Dundon must see some money-making opportunity in the franchise.
Karmanos has been involved in hockey ownership since the late 1970’s and bought the Hartford Whalers franchise in 1994. He eventually moved the franchise to Carolina, and hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2006. According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, he’ll remain as a minority owner with a 48-percent share of the team, while Dundon will hold an option to buy him out entirely after three years.
Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet reports that the deal values the Hurricanes franchise at just under $500MM, well above Forbes’ recent valuation of $370MM.
The team should think outside the box when it comes to making and keeping fans in a non-traditional market.
Play most of your home games in Raleigh, but play 5-10 in Charlotte as well and depending on how big an arena they have, play 3-6 games in a city in South Carolina. Do that for a few years to really build up the fan base and TV audience.
Play exhibition games in Atlanta and try to claim all 14 of the Thrashers old fans, too.
Even winning 7 or 8 of those Thrashers fans would be a big gain for the Canes.
If this team wants to survive they must move to Charlotte. Charlotte has been able to sustain an NBA team(Hornets), has businesses nearby, and people who can afford NHL tickets unlike all the college kids around the team in Raleigh
As a ‘Canes fan here in TX, bring them here to Houston!
You have to look at what the Charlotte Checkers attendance is. You also got to think, Michael Jordon kicked the Hockey team out of the arena , and made them go to a horrible alternative 3 seasons ago. I don’t think Charlotte would be a good alternative. Plus, I don’t think the NHL has a desire to be there with the presence of an AHl franchise there.