Thursday afternoon, they made it, selling a total of 12,309. Lots of fans, new and old bought mini-packs, even whole season packages.
Even though it came after the season, this is the biggest goal scored by the Canes this year. The team and its supporters had set a goal of doubling the number of season tickets, from 6,000 to 12,000. The NHL promised that if the goal was met, the NHL All-Star game will be held in the Triangle within five years.
Harris Teeter made an 11th hour buy, pushing the 'Canes over the top. A rally at the Entertainment and Sports Arena celebrated the accomplishment.
"People don't have to talk about this franchise anymore as a franchise that doesn't care about hockey," Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford says. "We have a great community here, a great fan base and a great organization. Thank you very much for being a part of it."
The Canes, of course, had a great season,making the playoffs and giving the NHL champion New Jersey Devils some tough hockey. That may have helped ticket sales, but it appears the fans really came through. So did Triangle companies, buying season packages and matching money with employees.
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