A Guide to Carolina Hurricanes Hockey in Raleigh, N.C.
Wednesday, October 08, 2025, 9am by visitRaleigh
The most fun team in hockey.
The loudest house in the NHL.
A perennial contender for the Stanley Cup.
The last seven seasons have been a heck of a ride for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Owner Tom Dundon purchased the franchise in late 2017, former Canes player Rod Brind'Amour was brought on as head coach just a handful of months later, the team made seven straight playoff appearances (including three trips to the Eastern Conference Finals), annihilated the Washington Capitals at the 2023 Stadium Series game and finished the most recent season with an average attendance of 18,795 fans filling the seats at Lenovo Center (100.5% of the arena's capacity—the team opened up standing-room-only admissions!).
After 117 straight sellout games, and with the puck dropping on the team's 28th season in the Tar Heel State this month (Oct. 9 vs. New Jersey is opening night), this new era of Canes hockey has made one thing loud and clear: Raleigh is a hockey town.
"North Carolina is a hockey state. Raleigh is a hockey town. We are grateful for the opportunity to be able to go to these games."
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) June 13, 2019
--@RoyCooperNC https://t.co/VRq7jfRq5z
Expectations are high again for the 2025-2026 season.
Coming off another trip to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, much of the Canes' core roster returns to the ice this season (forwards Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov, plus defensemen Jacob Slavin and Alexander Nikishin, are among the fan favorites and best-selling jerseys), and 2021 draft pick Jackson Blake is back for his second full season in the big leagues.
But don't just take it from us: ESPN has picked the Canes to win the Eastern Conference this season.
Whether you're new to hockey, new to the Canes or just don't want to miss out on the hottest ticket in town, we have some frequently asked visitor questions answered here to help guide your game day!
How do I get tickets to Hurricanes games?
Individual game tickets for Carolina Hurricanes games can be purchased online through Ticketmaster, or at the box office at Lenovo Center (open Tues.-Thurs., 10am-4pm; also open on event days).
Ticket prices vary but start at approximately $30.
Note that Lenovo Center is a cashless venue, using a digital/mobile ticketing system.
Where is Lenovo Center? How do I get there?
Lenovo Center is located at 1400 Edwards Mill Rd. in Raleigh, approximately 6.5 miles from downtown Raleigh (15-20 minutes by car with normal traffic).
Most fans arrive at Lenovo Center by car. The cost to park at Lenovo Center is $45 (card only), or $32 if you purchase your parking in advance (add parking when completing your ticket purchase, or purchase separately later through ParkWhiz).
Rideshare services are available, with a dedicated drop-off and pick-up zone located at Gate C off Trinity Rd. (Carter-Finley Stadium Gate C is the named entrance location on Google Maps).
I also hear there's....tailgating? For hockey?
Yes—this is the South, after all—so good weather means a good time inside and outside the arena.
You'll find tents, tailgaters, beer, barbecue, corn hole, street hockey, music and more happening in the parking lots beginning three hours prior to puck drop. Tables, chairs, grills, coolers and more are all allowed, though you need to be mindful of leaving other parking spots clear.
If you're coming from out of town and can't bring your own setup, no worries, it doesn't take much to make new friends (though it does help if you bring your own alcohol).
Note that Lenovo Center doors open one hour before game time for weeknight games and 90 minutes before game time on Saturdays and Sundays.
Where can I get some Canes gear?
It's no secret that hockey fans love to rep their team with all kinds of swag: jerseys, hats, beanies, T-shirts, scarves, hoodies and more. The Canes' yearly uniform announcement is always front page news around here (they'll be wearing black sweaters for most home games this season, with a heavy dose of red as well).
The Eye is the official team store of the Carolina Hurricanes, and it's located at Lenovo Center (open Mon.-Fri., 10am-4pm, plus during games). For shopping official team gear online, visit CarolinaProShop.com.
Is there any good food sold during Canes games at Lenovo Center?
Barbecue and nachos and pizza and more (even specialty coffee)—yes! Much of the food at Lenovo Center is served up by Raleigh area restaurants—Alpaca Peruvian Chicken, The BBQ Lab, Gonza Tacos y Tequila, Buffalo Brothers Pizza & Wing Co., Two Roosters and others.
You can read more about the food options for this season here.
Where can I find a good sports bar?
Some favorites in the Raleigh area:
- Woody's at City Market (downtown Raleigh)
- My Way Tavern (downtown Raleigh)
- Spots & Social (Cary's Fenton district)
- Players Retreat (Hillsborough St., near downtown Raleigh)
- Tobacco Road Sports Cafe and Brewery (downtown Raleigh)
A the The Local—opened in 2024 directly across from Lenovo Center in the former Backyard Bistro space—is an elevated sports bar that remains the closest restaurant to the action (plus offers tailgate and parking packages).
Are there theme nights?
Yes!
- Oct. 28, Hispanic Heritage Night
- Oct. 30, Halloween Celebration
- Nov. 6, Women In Sports Celebration
- Nov. 11, Veterans Day
- Nov. 14, Hockey Fights Cancer
- Nov. 30, First Responders Night
- Dec. 7, Stanley Cup 20th Anniversary Celebration
- Dec. 9, Stanley Cup 20th Anniversary Celebration
- Dec. 23, Holiday Hockey
- Jan. 6, Star Wars Night
- Jan. 16, Hockey Is For Everyone Night
- Jan. 19, Kids Day
- Jan. 29, Whalers Night
- Feb. 3, Olympic Send-Off Game
- March 10, Special Needs Night
- March 12, North Carolina Night
- March 18, Mental Health Awareness Night
- March 29, Military Appreciation Night
- April 2, Grateful Dead Night
- April 7, Fan Appreciation Night
What else is there to do near Lenovo Center? Around town?
It's easy to round out a 36-hour itinerary anchored by a Canes game.
Just down the road from Lenovo Center is the free-admission North Carolina Museum of Art (open Wed.-Sun.)—one of the premier visual art museums in the South—featuring two buildings filled with galleries, educational studios and special exhibitions (the museum's 164-acre outdoor park is the biggest of its kind in America, too). In downtown Raleigh, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is open Tues.-Sun. with free admission as well.
About one mile from the arena is Drive Shack, an interactive, three-story golf complex that delivers big entertainment (96 climate-controlled golf bays, a full-service restaurant, a rooftop bar, more than 300 televisions, an arcade area and more).
Opened early in 2023, a second location for Rush Hour Karting—this one 12-15 minutes away from Lenovo Center in Morrisville—features the state's first two-story race track with speeds of up to 40 mph (plus axe throwing, both racing and golf simulators and a full restaurant).
For outdoor exploring, nearby William B. Umstead State Park is a peaceful getaway with 13 miles of multi-use trails that follow a series of rolling hills (perfect for horseback riding, jogging and cycling) and 22 miles of dedicated hiking trails.
And of course there's no shortage of good eats and drinks, but for starters you can take a look at the Raleigh Beer Trail to see how you can earn rewards for visiting local breweries (Funguys Brewing, Neuse River Brewing Company and Standard Beer and Food are among the standouts, and R&D Brewing is the maker of Storm Brew, the official beer of the Hurricanes that you'll find at Lenovo Center).
It's been a sizzling 12 months for great new food in the Raleigh area, from date night spots to pizza shops and more.... View More
Note: Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts . Menconi's next book,... View More
One of the Tar Heel State's favorite annual holiday events is back and brighter than ever—yes, the North Carolina... View More
Note: Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts . Menconi's latest book,... View More
Note: Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts . Menconi's latest book,... View More
The 81st annual Raleigh Christmas Parade will take place Sat., Nov. 22 in downtown Raleigh, with a 9:30am start time. Read on for... View More
A huge breaking news story about food in the Raleigh area was just unveiled—read on to see why Raleigh's food scene... View More
Note: Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts . Menconi's latest book,... View More
Author: visitRaleigh
The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the official and accredited destination marketing organization (DMO) for all of Wake County.