RALEIGH, N.C. — Tailgating at Carolina Hurricanes playoff games has become a full-scale outdoor festival, complete with coolers, grills and unconventional use of a pickup bed. One fan, who identified himself as Tom Kazansky, described arriving in a swimsuit and tank top, sitting in ice stored in an inflatable pool in the back of a Ford F-150 and drinking a local ale while preparing to change into jeans and a Hurricanes jersey for the game.
The scene around the Lenovo Center draws thousands beneath tall pines, set to music from artists such as Luke Combs and Ben Folds and filled with the smell of hickory-charred food. The gathering returns for home games, most recently as the Hurricanes prepared to host the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The arena sits about six miles east of downtown Raleigh, adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium and the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. The building’s hockey capacity is listed at 18,547, while the surrounding area offers roughly 20,000 parking spots, allowing many fans to drive individually and elaborate on their pregame setups.
The tailgating tradition traces back to the franchise’s early days after moving from Hartford. Pat Garrett recalled driving to Greensboro during the team’s temporary stay there, bringing convenience-store beer and sitting in the Coliseum parking lot before games. When the Canes opened in Raleigh on Oct. 29, 1999, Garrett said he set up a cooler and a portable grill next to the NC State football fieldhouse; others followed his example.
The team initially banned tailgating, prompting fans to move their gatherings to the fairgrounds lots. The Hurricanes later reversed that policy, and the large, raucous pregame parties known as the Caniacs have continued since, becoming a defining feature of the club’s playoff atmosphere.
