What the Hurricanes Stanley Cup run meant to Raleigh

What the Hurricanes Stanley Cup run meant to Raleigh

In a region of divided loyalties and transplants, the Carolina Hurricanes' run to winning the Stanley Cup has given the Triangle and its 2.3 million residents something to rally around.

Why it matters: You could feel it in the streets, with watch parties and bars from Raleigh to Durham slammed in a way usually reserved for Final Four runs.

Between the lines: Wearing Hurricanes gear is one of the few times someone in the Triangle can put on red without it signifying allegiance to a particular school — or it might be the only time someone wears the color at all.

  • And in a region where most people were born elsewhere, the Hurricanes are giving new arrivals a way to connect with Raleigh in an entirely new way.

    • The big picture: While the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006, the Triangle is a dramatically different region than it was 20 years ago, when its population was about 1.5 million.

  • A new generation is building its own memories of cheering for the Triangle on the national stage — and man does it feel good.
  • While the region's universities power its economy, it is one of the "big four" sports teams that put everyone under one flag.

    • What they're saying: The playoff run has boosted Raleigh's brand, says Kyle Touchstone, the city's economic development director, especially given the consistent reminders on national TV that the Lenovo Center is one of the NHL's loudest arenas.

  • "We've always been known for legendary sports here, but this just shows that we can do it on a larger scale," he tells Axios.

    • What's next: Where all this excitement goes next is the big question. Does it provide a boost to other local teams — perhaps the NC Courage — or go dormant at the end of the championship run?

    The intrigue: It's probably no coincidence that there are now two billionaires, Tom Dundon and Marc Lasry, expressing interest in bringing Major League Baseball to the Triangle.

  • "I can't speak for any of the other professional leagues, but I do know that NHL has been very pleased with what they've seen here," Touchstone says.

    • The bottom line: Landing a baseball team is still an uphill battle. But clearly they're seeing something that we are currently feeling — a fast-growing region that will rally together around a shared interest.

  • "You're making a bet that in the next five, 10, 20 years, the city is going to keep on growing," Lasry told WRAL of bringing baseball to Raleigh. "That's a bet I'm willing to make."