A 53-foot long trailer on Monday arrived at Carter-Finley Stadium to begin the process of turning the football field into an outdoor ice hockey rink.
The National Hockey League’s mobile refrigeration unit features all the equipment needed to make Carter-Finley hockey-ready ahead of the Feb. 18 highly-anticipated outdoor game against the Washington Capitals.
The equipment will also be used to monitor the ice, ensuring it is at least 2 inches thick and 22 degrees at all times. It will be unusually warm in the days leading up to the game, with near-record highs in the 70s later this week. That may sound concerning, but according to the NHL, coolant can be used to manage the temperature of the ice, even in 60-degree and 70-degree weather.
The warmest temperatures for an outdoor NHL game since 2003 was 65 degrees in Denver in Feb. 2016. The biggest issue when it comes to maintaining the integrity of the ice may be rain. In 2020, Dallas experienced heavy rain and temperatures in the upper 60s four days prior to a game. The rain and temperatures combined melted the top layers of ice, and the crew had to rebuild the top sheet of ice because the white paint, lines and logo all washed away. The Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series game between the Canes and the Capitals — the Canes’ first-ever outdoor game — has been delayed twice due to concerns from COVID-19.
A free Carolina Hurricanes Fan Fest will be held the day before the game, on Friday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fayetteville Street. There will be photo opportunities with the Stanley Cup, former Hurricanes players signing autographs, food trucks, live music, fireworks, street hockey, craft beer, art installations, photo stations, inflatables and a kids’ zone.
On Saturday, the puck drops at 8 p.m. For fans attending, the gates open at 6 p.m. The parking lots will open at 2 p.m. with all parking expected to be general admission. Parking will cost $40 per car. Fans should arrive early to account for the large crowd.
As of Monday morning, any available tickets were starting at over $300.
The Canes have been the hottest team in the NHL since December and are first in the Metropolitan Division. The next game will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, against New York.
The NHL has staged 36 regular-season outdoor games, according to its website. According to Visit Raleigh, the game at Carter-Finley is projected to generate $12.4 million in total economic impact for the region.
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