The excitement and cheers at the Jan. 18 Hurricanes game against division rival Washington Capitals will be coming from an audience of college students. This is because the Carolina Hurricanes are presenting “College Night,” where students from all over the Triangle will be allotted discounts on tickets.
“People are coming from schools all around North Carolina,” Paul Hutchens, group sales representative for the Carolina Hurricanes, said. “All of the colleges have their rivalries and we want the Hurricanes to be the one common ground for everyone.
On College Night, students will receive a discount greater than the normal student discount amount.
“We are dropping ticket prices to Lower Level at $25 and at most a $35 discount in the Lower Level South,” Hutchens said. “We are trying to get more students out to the games.”
Hutches said the team is also wanting to increase awareness for the College Caniac Rush Program.
Through the College Caniac Rush Program, which is offered throughout the season, students are able to present valid college student identification at the RBC Center box office and receive $20 off any lower-level seat or $5 off any upper-level seat, excluding the $10.29 sections. Students have this opportunity on the day of the game only, and there is a limit of two tickets per ID.
At College Night, there will be promotions where students can win T-shirts, ride the Zamboni and register to win an Xbox 360 with a library of games or a Chevrolet Silverado.
Also, the NCSU and UNC-Chapel Hill hockey teams will have a shootout during intermission.
John Carter, a freshman in business management and defenseman for NCSU’s hockey team, said the shootout versus UNC-CH will be interesting.
“We get three guys on each team out there and we get a chance to show off a little bit of skill that you wouldn’t really see during a game,” he said. “Maybe Duke and UNC hockey is a joke, but N.C. State hockey is not a joke. We can really get out there and show off some good moves, get our name out there as well.”
Not only will the college students be supporting the Hurricanes, but Mr. and Mrs. Wuf will as well.
Hutchens said thus far, more than 1,000 college students have bought tickets, which he called a significant turnout. NCSU students have bought the majority of the tickets.
“We want to bring all [students] in and get the college atmosphere,” Hutchens said. “The excitement and the energy is what we’re trying to bring to the Hurricanes games. We are trying to get students more involved because it’s a great sport to watch.”
Students can take the Wolfline to the RBC Center or park at the fairgrounds for free. Hutchens said students should get to the game as early as possible because of a limited supply of T-shirt giveaways.
“We are hoping that this will become an annual event,” Hutchens said. “We really hope that it will and the support that we get from the students will determine whether we continue to do this. We love the enthusiasm of all college students and their support.”
