How could an NHL team take a multi-million dollar loss each year in themiddle of hockey territory? Jeff Jacobs, a columnistfor theHartford Courantnewspaper, says that the team's fanswereloyal, but they were split between teams from other major cities. Whalersfans were also turned off by the team's 15 losing seasons in 18 years ofplay in Hartford, Jacobs says.
With the projected price of a single ticket to a Hurricanes gameaveraging $50 a seat (Karmanos said Tuesday the lowest would be "probably $20), will the Carolina Hurricanes take the Tar Heel state by storm?
By comparison, average single game ticket prices for professionalbaseball, football and basketball is substantially less than the $50average ticket price projected for Hurricanes tickets.
For the minor leagueRaleigh Icecaps, where a single ticket sells for about five bucks,it has been achallenge to fill the stands. Hockey fanshave been almost non-existant at some games in Dorton Arena. The Icecaps'Rick Barkovich told WRAL-TV5's BretBaierthat his people are at a loss toexplain why attendance is so low at their hockey games.
Jacobs said that the Whalers share the Hartford sports spotlight withcollege basketball. For Karmanos, it may be a shootout for his team to score a profit while playing in the heart of ACC basketball country.
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