The Carolina Hurricanes are limiting ticket sales for their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series against the New York Rangers to residents of North Carolina, South Carolina, and select parts of Virginia to maintain a home advantage, a strategy that is becoming increasingly common in the NHL.
The Carolina Hurricanes are all about keeping their home vibe loud and proud at PNC Arena. It’s one of the NHL’s most daunting places for visiting teams. So, they’ve got a plan to keep it that way, especially during the high stakes of the Eastern Conference second-round playoff series against the New York Rangers.
Here’s the deal: only fans living in North Carolina, South Carolina, and parts of Virginia can buy tickets. That’s right, they’re keeping it local. You’ll see this clearly stated on Ticketmaster, just so there’s no confusion.
This isn’t the first time they’ve pulled a move like this. Last year, during the 2022 series with the Rangers, they did the same thing. Although, let’s not forget, the Rangers clinched that one in seven games. According to Julian McKenzie from The Athletic, Ticketmaster’s disclaimer spells it out. It’s all about where you live, based on your credit card’s billing address. Step outside the designated areas, and bam—your purchase gets axed, no warning, but you do get a refund.
Now, over at New York’s Madison Square Garden, it’s a different story. No such restrictions. The Rangers, being the higher-seeded team, get to host the first couple of games, plus the fifth and seventh, if we get that far. This tactic of limiting ticket sales? It’s catching on across the NHL.
Take the Canucks-Predators series, for example. The Predators are keeping tickets within the Nashville TV area, even stretching to fans in states like Alabama and Tennessee. Last season, the Florida Panthers had a 24-hour U.S. residents-only rule before their series with the Toronto Maple Leafs kicked off. The Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning have played this card too, sticking to local or state residents for certain games. Even the Ottawa Senators are in on the action.
So, yeah, it’s becoming a thing. Keeping the home advantage by ensuring the stands are filled with local cheers? Pretty smart, if you ask me.
