The Hurricanes will reduce the capacity of the
Greensboro Coliseum from 21,000 to 11,500 for home games
this season in an attempt to "create a more cozy atmosphere
while increasing demand for tickets," according to Todd
Taylor of the Greensboro NEWS & RECORD. Dean Jordan,
President of the team's parent company, Gale Force Holdings,
said the decision was his, and that Owner Peter Karmanos
"supported the idea." Karmanos: "If you know that, no
matter what, you can always get a ticket, that makes it hard
for us to do business. You want people to understand that
tickets are something you need to plan for in advance."
Jordan added that a "fixed capacity" would allow them to
"provide better service." However, Coliseum Managing Dir
Matt Brown is "no fan of the idea" because the coliseum
shares in parking revenue generated at the games. Brown, on
the possibility of turning away fans: "I asked the
Hurricanes which member of their staff would be at the
Rangers game to tell 75 angry New Yorkers that they couldn't
get in, even though there are seats available. They didn't
really have an answer for me" (NEWS & RECORD, 9/14).
