PNC Arena Capacity to Increase for Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Loudest House in the NHL just got louder.
Capacity at PNC Arena is expected to increase to around 10,000-12,000 for the beginning of the
2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs
, according to Carolina Hurricanes President and General Manager Don Waddell.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday lifted state capacity restrictions, a move that previously wasn't expected until June 1. The Canes are now working with the National Hockey League to determine an exact capacity number moving forward.
"Our goal is to get as many people as possible," Waddell said.

In the absence of state capacity restrictions, the Canes still have to abide by the NHL's new air flow requirements, a project for which the team has fielded three bids, including one local bid, which could expedite installation.
"We've actually been working on this for some months now about what equipment we'd need," Waddell said. "We're going to fast-forward our talks about bringing equipment in, which could help increase attendance even more."
Even though the state also lifted its mask mandate - this on the heels of the CDC's new relaxed mask-wearing guidelines for the vaccinated population - masks will still be required inside PNC Arena due to NHL protocol.
Additional ticket inventory will be made first available to Canes
Season Ticket Members
. Any remaining tickets will go

on Sunday, May 16 at 12 p.m.
The Carolina Hurricanes 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs are powered by DieHard. DieHard batteries are available at Advance Auto Parts and participating Carquest locations nationwide.