Hurricanes, Senators fans soak up the sun ahead of Game 1

Tailgating is a football tradition in the United States, but is also a big part of life for Hurricanes fans, especially this time of year.

“We’re all just great friends through hockey,” Averkamp said. “And I think it’s a really good excuse to drink some beer and eat some food and hang out.”

There was also a smattering of Senators supporters sprinkled among the smoked brisket, laughs and tunes with temperatures pushing above 30 C.

Kevin McMahon and his son, Declan, were originally planning to catch a flight to Raleigh from Ogensburg, N.Y., but the 3 p.m. faceoff forced a change of plans. The rest of the family piled into the car and headed south.

“It’s exciting,” McMahon said. “It’s nice to see the weather. We just got here, so looking forward to exploring around here, but it looks like everyone’s having a blast.

“It feels awesome,” Declan added. “The drive was a bit long, but I’m really excited.”

Jason Gul spent his early years in Ottawa, but moved to the Raleigh area when he was 10 years old.

“I played hockey growing up,” he said in a Senators home jersey. “It’s a big part of the rise of hockey in the south.”

The lots around Lenovo Center are also used for the same carnival atmosphere ahead of N.C. State University football games played at nearby Carter-Finley Stadium.

“It’s everything,” Gul said of tailgating. “Especially with the weather being so nice here. People love to get out and have a couple beers, barbecue and all that.”

Blake Gross was part of another gathering of tailgaters — this time with an ear-piercing hurricane warning siren and a mock Stanley Cup made of beer cans.

“It’s a family around here,” he said. “If you just look around, tailgates everywhere, a nice 90 degrees (Fahrenheit) here in April. There’s not much to explain other than family and everyone’s here to have a good time.”

So what constitutes a solid parking lot experience?

“You’ve got to bring some nice, cold beverages,” Gross explained. “You’ve got to bring some food. We’ve got some grills and (are) making some sandwiches.

“And we’re going to bring the barbecue, because that’s what Carolina does.”

Averkamp, who only moved to the area in 2023 from Indiana, said the scene often develops organically.

“I met these guys randomly just at a hockey game,” he said. “Throughout the next year, every game, we all started a text chain.

“And it morphed into this.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 18, 2026.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Hurricanes, Senators fans soak up the sun ahead of Game 1

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