The Hurricanes began in 1972 as the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association, became the Hartford Whalers in the NHL and moved to North Carolina in 1997. Along the way they have played in seven arenas, from Boston and Springfield to Hartford, Greensboro and Raleigh.
Here is every home in order, with the years the team played there, what made each one matter and what stands on the site today. Each arena with a ThrillZing guide links to it.
Every Hurricanes Arena, 1972 to Today
- Boston
- 1972–1973
Boston Arena
The franchise began in the WHA as the New England Whalers, and those years count in its history. The first season was split between the Boston Arena and Boston Garden, and ended with the first WHA championship.
Today: Closed in December 2025 as Northeastern University's Matthews Arena; demolition began in 2026
1972–1974The Bruins owned the Garden, and the Whalers came fourth for dates behind the Bruins, Celtics and AHL Braves. Owner Howard Baldwin announced the move to Hartford in February 1974.
Today: Demolished in 1998
Stadium history →- West Springfield
- 1974–1975
Big E Coliseum
The fairground arena of the Eastern States Exposition, used while the Hartford Civic Center was being finished: playoff games in 1974 and the first part of the 1974–75 season.
Today: Still used for The Big E fair and other events; the ice plant was removed in 1991
- Hartford
- 1975–1978
Hartford Civic Center
The Whalers opened the new downtown arena with a sellout on January 11, 1975. In the early morning of January 18, 1978, the roof collapsed under snow and rain; no one was hurt.
Today: Rebuilt and reopened in January 1980
- Springfield
- 1978–1980
Springfield Civic Center
The stand-in home after the Hartford roof collapse. The Whalers played their last WHA seasons here and opened their first NHL season here in the fall of 1979.
Today: Renovated and renamed MassMutual Center; home of the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds
- Hartford
- 1980–1997
Hartford Civic Center
Back in the rebuilt arena in 1980 as the Hartford Whalers of the NHL. Talks with the state over a new arena failed, and in 1997 owner Peter Karmanos moved the team to North Carolina.
Today: Still in use as PeoplesBank Arena, home of the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack
- Greensboro
- 1997–1999
Greensboro Coliseum
Two seasons about 80 miles west of Raleigh while the new arena was built. The Coliseum held over 21,000 for hockey, but most crowds were 5,000 or fewer, and in 1998–99 most of the upper deck was curtained off.
Today: Still in use as First Horizon Coliseum, home of the ECHL's Greensboro Gargoyles
- Raleigh
- 1999–presentCurrent home
Opened October 29, 1999 as the Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena, later RBC Center and PNC Arena. The Hurricanes won the 2006 Stanley Cup in Game 7 here; their 2026 Cup was clinched on the road.
Visiting guide →
Hurricanes Arena FAQ
Where did the Hurricanes play before Raleigh?
At the Greensboro Coliseum, for their first two seasons in North Carolina (1997–1999), while the Raleigh arena was being finished. Before that, as the Whalers, they played in Boston (1972–1974), at the Big E Coliseum in West Springfield (1974–1975), at the Hartford Civic Center (1975–1978 and 1980–1997) and at the Springfield Civic Center (1978–1980).
How many arenas have the Hurricanes had?
Seven: the Boston Arena, the Boston Garden, the Big E Coliseum, the Hartford Civic Center, the Springfield Civic Center, the Greensboro Coliseum and Lenovo Center. Counting the return to Hartford in 1980, that is eight stints.
Why did the Whalers play in Springfield?
In the early morning of January 18, 1978, the roof of the Hartford Civic Center collapsed. No one was hurt, but the arena was closed for two years, so the Whalers moved to the Springfield Civic Center in Massachusetts until the rebuilt Hartford arena reopened in January 1980.
Why did the Whalers leave Hartford?
Talks with Connecticut governor John Rowland over a new downtown arena fell apart, and in 1997 owner Peter Karmanos announced the team would leave. He moved it to Raleigh as the Carolina Hurricanes, playing in Greensboro first. The Hartford arena is still in use as PeoplesBank Arena.
Where do the Hurricanes play now?
At Lenovo Center in Raleigh, formerly PNC Arena, where they have played since 1999. It seats 18,547 for hockey. The Hurricanes won the 2006 Stanley Cup there in Game 7 against Edmonton.