Five Takeaways from Dundon's Introduction

It was a historic day at PNC Arena, as Peter Karmanos passed the baton to Tom Dundon, who is now the majority owner of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes.
Dundon was formally introduced at a news conference, sitting alongside Karmanos, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Hurricanes Executive Vice President and General Manager Ron Francis and team President Don Waddell.
Here are five takeaways from the introduction of Dundon as the new owner of the Hurricanes.

1. A Thank You to Karmanos
Without the foresight and vision of Karmanos in the mid-90s, today might have been just another Friday in Raleigh. But, because he saw how hockey could thrive in the Triangle, the Hurricanes were born and have rooted themselves within the community.
"Transitions always make for opportunities and dreams and visions as to what comes next, but I also think it's appropriate today to recognize what Pete Karmanos has meant to the Triangle and hockey, not just in the Triangle and North Carolina but throughout the United States," Bettman said at the opening of the press conference. "A little over 20 years ago, Pete had a vision. He had a vision that a remarkable market, a growing market, a vibrant market like the Triangle in North Carolina that didn't have any professional sports would be a great place to bring hockey, to have hockey grow, to make it part of the community.
"If you think about over the last 20 years, we had a draft here and it was sensational. We had an All-Star Game here and it was sensational. You had a parade here after winning the Stanley Cup," Bettman continued. "This was all part of Pete's vision as to what NHL hockey could be in North Carolina."
Karmanos' longtime business partner and friend, Thomas Thewes, passed away in 2008, and his search for a new partner and, ultimately, a successor has ramped up in the last few years.
"I've been looking for someone I thought would move this whole franchise forward, and I was extremely excited when Tom came along," he said. "There is a time, and this is the time. We have the right person."

Now in their 20th Anniversary season, a new era begins for the Hurricanes.
"One of the great things that Peter has done for this franchise is ensured a smooth transition that will give this franchise stability as far into the future as you can look," Bettman said.
"We want to do a lot of great things and we want to change a lot of things," Dundon said. "Karmanos] has been the biggest cheerleader for let's do everything we can with no limitations and not worrying about what we did before."
"You're going to see some pretty fantastic things going on here, and I'm looking forward to it," Karmanos said.
**2. Dundon is Getting Right to Work**
The purchase transaction between Dundon and Karmanos was officially finalized and approved by the league on Thursday, but Dundon has been busy behind the scenes for months.
He's had countless meetings with members of the hockey staff and the business staff. He's spoken with the coaching staff, medical staff, equipment staff and players in order to ascertain what they need to be successful. He's discussed next steps and tried to absorb as much about the business as he can with confidants, friends and peers.
It's a new venture for the billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, but it's one he's tackling with the same enthusiasm, passion and drive as he's done throughout his entire professional life.
**[READ: A LETTER FROM TOM
"Everything Tom is going to do is part of his vision to not only bring a championship, the Stanley Cup to Carolina, but to make sure this franchise is a vibrant and important part of this community," Bettman said.
"What we're doing today isn't good enough, and we're going to do better," Dundon said. "What I was excited about is they want to do better. Everyone here that works at the arena and works for this team, they're ready. They're ready to do something better than they did yesterday, and I think we can. It's not even a choice. We're just going to do it."
3. Whatever it Takes**
That phrase should be familiar to Hurricanes' fans: it was the team's mantra en route to the 2006 Stanley Cup championship. Dundon is embracing the same mentality, as he works to provide the necessary resources to build a perennial playoff contender.
"Having this culture where everybody knows - whether it's the players or the people who work here - we're always going to keep improving everything, every day, all the time," Dundon said. "It's never going to be enough."

"Whatever it takes" doesn't necessarily mean cutting checks for this, that and the other without a purpose.
"We're going to make good, rational decisions, and we're going to win," Dundon said. "I value winning more than money, but that doesn't mean I want to burn it."
4. Improving the Fan Experience
In a basic sense, there are two sides to the Hurricanes as an organization: the hockey side and the business side. Dundon likes a lot about the hockey side already but will be looking for ways to better support the players.
"Ron and Bill and the team, I feel pretty fortunate that they've got something that works," Dundon said. "That doesn't mean we won't keep trying to get better, but it's pretty good right now.
"On the hockey side, the advice is repeatedly: you've got to trust the people who know what they're doing," he continued. "There's nothing super complicated about understanding who the smart people are and giving them the resources to do their job and supporting them."
Dundon sees the biggest opportunity for improvement on the business side of the team, where he wants to first and foremost improve the fan experience at PNC Arena.
"Other than the great hockey, we need to do more than that. That's our focus right now," he said. "We want to make sure when someone comes here, they feel they got value and entertainment. They want to tell their friends, and they want to come back."
The fan support exists in the market. It's been seen before; it just must be reinvigorated.
"All the stories I heard as I started looking at this opportunity was about 2006 and the fan experience and the tailgating," Dundon said. "That already happened. We don't have to hope for it. It's there. It's built in. Now we've just got to go get it again."
5. The Hurricanes Stay in Raleigh
It's been said countless times, but here it is again, bolded, underlined, italicized, emphasized in every single way possible: the Hurricanes are remaining in Raleigh.
"This is a community that has embraced NHL hockey and the Hurricanes," Bettman said. "I know over the years there has been speculation and rumor and innuendo about the future of this franchise. Let me tell you, as I've repeatedly said over the years, this franchise wasn't going anywhere and isn't going anywhere."
Tuck those unfounded rumors in bed and turn off the lights. The Hurricanes have been and will continue to be committed to the Triangle, especially with Dundon at the helm.
"I think there was way too much speculation about the future of this franchise. I think a lot of those rumors started in other places that would like to have a franchise," Bettman said. "There was never a risk of this team moving. It used to drive us crazy when we'd have to spend hours on the phone refuting stories that were just made up and, in some cases I suppose, wishful thinking - not wishful by us, but by the other places that would like to have a team."
Potpourri
Friday's press conference clocked in at around 40 minutes, so there was much discussed. Here are some additional highlights.
Bettman: "When I was first introduced and you were nice enough to not only be here today but to give some applause, Don Waddell leaned over and said, 'Well, that doesn't happen very often.'"
Dundon: "I didn't know Gary three months ago, and I think we're best friends now."
Bettman: "We thought we were getting the real deal, and the more I've gotten to know my new best friend, it's clear we've gotten the real deal."
Dundon: "The thing that's great about sports is you get to build an emotional attachment. If we can get the players and the fans engaged with each other and give people a reason to come - the team's winning, the experience is good, they're getting value - then we'll sell more tickets. If we don't sell more tickets, it's not the fans' fault, it's our fault."
Dundon: "When they win, I can't sleep. When they lose, I'm just miserable. I just need more people on that with me." Francis: "I'm with you." Dundon: "He's with me, for sure."
Bettman: "This is the one team that really can unite this community. There's a lot of fragmented sports rooting interests depending on which school you follow, which school you went to or where your kids went."