Season-ticket renewals are currently at 91%, compared to 72% at this time last seasongetty images
The '18-19 NHL season was the first full season with Tom Dundon as majority owner of the Hurricanes, and although the team is "currently operating at a loss, there are a number of encouraging signs," according to Emily Kaplan of ESPN.com. Hurricanes President & GM Don Waddell said that the team is up just over 12% in attendance year over year. During the final weeks of the regular season with the Hurricanes making a playoff push, the team was up 20% year over year. Fan interest also has "spiked during the playoffs." Twenty-four hours before Thursday's Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 4 against the Capitals, the "cheapest tickets available on the secondary market were nearly $400 for a pair." Along with the attendance increases, the Hurricanes are already at $2.5M for "new business with season-ticket sales for next season." Last year at this point, they were at $400,000, and the renewal rate for season tickets was 72%. They are currently at 91%. When Waddell arrived five years ago, there were 5,000 season-ticket holders. Now there are 7,500, and Waddell "predicts they could add some 2,000 more for next season" (ESPN.com, 4/18). The Hurricanes tied their series against the Capitals 2-2 on Thursday night in front of a "record crowd of 19,202" at PNC Arena (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 4/19).
