Bettman tours Carter-Finley Stadium as Hurricanes push for outdoor game

League commissioner Gary Bettman met with Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon on Tuesday to tour Carter-Finley Stadium as the NHL considers the club's pitch to host an outdoor game in Raleigh, N.C., according to Michael Smith of NHL.com.

Bettman also met with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, general manager Don Waddell, and several Hurricanes players during his visit, reports Smith.

"We are taking it very seriously and looking at the possibility," Bettman said of a prospective outdoor tilt at the NC State Wolfpack's 57,500-seat home stadium.

Dundon has been in Bettman's ear about hosting an outdoor event for over a year and said in October that progress was being made on a potential game. The Hurricanes owner previously admitted his club plays in too small a market to host the Winter Classic but wants to stage an event for the team and its fans.

If Dundon is to get his wish, Bettman said it won't be until the 2020-21 campaign at the earliest; next season's slate of outdoor games has already been announced.

The Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators will meet at Cotton Bowl Stadium for the Winter Classic, while the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche will play the Stadium Series at the United States Air Force Academy's Falcon Stadium. The Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames will also square off in the Heritage Classic, but that event has only ever featured Canadian teams.

Dundon took over as owner of the Hurricanes in late 2017 and almost immediately made significant changes to the club's front office. He's garnered attention for some interesting quotes, like saying he'd never draft a defenseman in the first round.

Despite the tumultuous nature of his early tenure, the Hurricanes currently occupy the second wild-card spot and have frequently been the talk of the league for their creative celebrations following home wins.

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