City: Raleigh, NC

Category: Spectator Sports

Telephone: (919) 467-7825

Address: 1400 Edwards Mill Rd.

Description: When the Hartford Whalers migrated south in 1997, few thought a sport played on ice skates, mostly by Canadians, could catch on in the land of barbecue and basketball. But within a few years, once Raleigh found its home team vying for the Stanley Cup, the Canes found a Southern-fried crowd crazy for hockey. The Canes spent their first few seasons in Greensboro, about an hour outside the Triangle, until Raleigh built the RBC Center, which draws an average of 15,000 to 17,000 fans. Along with the on-ice action, Canes games offer Stormy, the team’s ice-skating hog mascot—a nod to the state’s pork industry and its turbulent coastal weather—and professional wrestler Ric Flair, whose wild-eyed holler of “Woo!” on the Jumbotron in celebration of Carolina goals inspires countless imitations. Off the ice, handsome player Eric Staal has developed an almost cult-like following among females, who post Eric Staal-at-Target sightings on his Facebook page. The Canes missed the Cup in 2002, but won it in 2006. The team paraded through downtown Raleigh, and soon the red-and-white spiral insignia could be spotted on thousands of drivers’ rear windows, and middle-schoolers everywhere were sporting heavy red jerseys. In a region that has feuded for decades over the three-way rivalry in college sports, the Triangle now has a team for everyone. Ticket prices vary, but are cheapest when purchased at least a week in advance. Bought early, they range from $9.99 for upper deck seats to $200 for the front row. Many season and group ticket offers are available at http://hurricanes.nhl.com, along with a fans’ ticket exchange.