RBC Double-Header Saturday Causes Traffic, Court Challenges

The RBC center was quickly converted from a basketball court into an ice hockey arena Saturday. N.C. State played a basketball game at 3 p.m., then at 7 p.m. the Carolina Hurricanes took to the ice at the center.

Posted 11:24 p.m. Feb 16, 2008 — Updated 8:55 p.m. Feb 17, 2008

RALEIGH, N.C. — The RBC center was quickly converted from a basketball court into an ice hockey arena Saturday.

The N.C. State game against Clemson finished up just after 5 p.m. Clemson held the Wolfpack scoreless during the final minutes of its 71-64 victory. Right after the game was over, the RBC Center's floor was made into a hockey rink for the Carolina Hurricanes game against the Florida Panthers. It was the fastest court turnaround in the center's history.

RBC General Manager Dave Olsen said he knew the changeover between games would not be easy and 55 personnel made sure the transition went smoothly.

“They'll be no glitches today. There’s no time for glitches today,” he said.

The Hurricanes encouraged fans who wanted to come early to enter off Trinity Road and use the Gate A parking area until game time.

Many fans were still caught by surprise Saturday by the additional traffic.

“I get down here and I see that everything's blocked off. They didn't give us any like instructions on where to go,” fan Jamie Coe said.

Some fans knew traffic would be rough and purposely got to the RBC Center hours early.

“They're still going to play the hockey. Regardless of what time it is,” fan Shirley Hollcraft said.

Olsen said the games were scheduled so close because the Hurricanes didn't take into consideration that N.C. State had planned a 3 p.m. game and that the hockey game should have been moved to 8 p.m.

Olsen added that this wouldn’t happen again as long as he was general manager.

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