Gary Bettman Extends a Hand to Yet Another American Team

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Austin Sabourin
August 17, 2023 (11:13 PM)

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Gary Bettman, the NHL boss, has a rep for favoring certain teams.

One lucky team is the Arizona Coyotes, which got some attention from NHL bigwigs. But now Bettman's giving props to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Here's the scoop: "The #Canes just locked in a 20-year deal to stay at PNC Arena till 2043-44."

They're fixing up the place, making it cooler for sports and fun stuff.

This mega deal comes from both the City of Raleigh and Wake County, chipping in $300 million. Gale Force, the team's owner, is also getting in on the action, developing the area around PNC Arena.

Gale Force is putting in cash like this: at least $200 million in five years, then $400 million in ten, and a whopping $800 million in twenty.

But wait, there's more. As part of this deal, the NHL is promising extra cool stuff for the Hurricanes and their fans: "Another All-Star Game is coming to Raleigh within three years after the arena makeover."

And there's even more excitement: "Get ready for another Stadium Series Game in five years after the arena facelift."

This news is making the Hurricanes look good, locking them in for Raleigh, North Carolina. They're going all in, putting down $300 million for the team and the local community.

And here's the twist: Gary Bettman is shifting his focus to the Carolina Hurricanes, bringing more cool events their way. An All-Star Game is set to come to Raleigh, a decade after the city last hosted it in 2011.

As the NHL keeps an eye on smaller teams like the fresh Seattle Kraken, some folks aren't too happy, suggesting that the NHL cares more about money than growing the game for everyone.

As seen on hawksinsider