More Outdoor Hockey Is Coming To North Carolina
Did you catch the Carolina Hurricanes game at Carter Finley Stadium in Raleigh this past winter? The Stadium Series game brought outdoor hockey to the North Carolina capital in February of 2023. Even as someone with little to no interest in hockey, it was an incredible event to witness. The excitement and electricity (and the fact that Carter Finley is my home away from home) had me wishing I was there experiencing the game. While the ice was still on the football field, another hockey game was played NC State v UNC in hockey. Both the home teams- the Carolina Hurricanes and the NC State Wolfpack won those games. And both played to the largest crowds this state has seen for hockey.
Outdoor Hockey in North Carolina
So it’s safe to say the demand is there. And now another outdoor hockey game is coming to North Carolina. This time to the Queen City. On January 14, 2024 Charlotte’s minor league hockey team the Checkers will take on the Rochester Americans at Truist Field in uptown Charlotte. Truist Field is home to the Charlotte Knights. Tickets for the game dubbed the Queen City Outdoor Classic, will go on sale to the public on Monday, Oct. 16. More information can be found on the event’s official webpage. Season ticket holders to both the Charlotte Checkers and Charlotte Knights will be given first access to purchase tickets.
The Checkers today released the design for the special jerseys the team will wear at the game. You can see that announcement and jersey on the Twitter post below. Since I had so much FOMO from the Raleigh outdoor game perhaps I’ll check this game out. I expect it to sell out, and that’s great for the economy of Charlotte and the state of North Carolina. And perhaps if the response and energy around this outdoor hockey game in Charlotte North Carolina is what I anticipate, the Hurricanes may make a trip to play at Bank of America Stadium. It would certainly be a site to see if they decided to!
A historic look for a historic moment #QCOC pic.twitter.com/x1LgVFFSxY
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) September 5, 2023