How Raleigh Landed the Carolina Hurricanes: The Untold Story of John Odom, the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association, and a Vision for Major League Sports
Today, it’s hard to imagine Raleigh without the Carolina Hurricanes. The team has brought a Stanley Cup championship, sold-out crowds, national attention, and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact to the Triangle. But nearly 30 years ago, none of that was guaranteed.
The Hurricanes’ arrival in North Carolina wasn’t simply the relocation of a hockey franchise. It was the result of years of vision, advocacy, and leadership from local business and civic leaders who believed Raleigh could compete on a national stage.
Among the most influential figures in that effort was John Odom, a Raleigh City Council member, local business advocate, and Executive Director of the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association (GRMA), now known as Shop Local Raleigh.
A City with Big Ambitions
During the 1990s, Raleigh was one of the fastest-growing cities in America. While the region was attracting new residents and businesses, local leaders believed the Triangle needed major league sports and world-class entertainment facilities to continue its growth.
At the time, plans were already underway to build a new arena near NC State University’s Carter-Finley Stadium. Originally envisioned as a replacement for Reynolds Coliseum and a home for Wolfpack basketball, many community leaders saw the opportunity to think much bigger.
A larger arena could attract concerts, major events, and perhaps even a professional sports franchise.
The Role of the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association
The Greater Raleigh Merchants Association represented hundreds of local businesses throughout the region. Long before becoming Shop Local Raleigh, the organization served as a powerful voice for economic development, tourism, and initiatives that would strengthen the local business community.
As Executive Director, John Odom understood that major league sports could be transformative for Raleigh’s economy.
A professional franchise would:
- Generate tourism spending
- Increase hotel occupancy
- Support restaurants and retailers
- Create jobs
- Raise Raleigh’s national profile
- Bring year-round visitors to the region
For local merchants, the opportunity extended far beyond hockey. A major league team would create new customers for countless businesses throughout Wake County.
The Critical City Council Vote
In February 1997, Raleigh City Council faced a pivotal decision.
The proposed arena needed to be expanded from its original design to a larger, NHL-caliber facility. The expansion would require additional funding and carry significant political risk.
The vote was far from certain.
John Odom emerged as one of the key advocates for the project. According to contemporary reporting, he helped secure the votes necessary for approval by crafting a compromise that would provide annual revenue sharing to both the City of Raleigh and Wake County.
The council ultimately voted 5-3 in favor of the larger arena.
That vote would prove to be one of the most consequential economic development decisions in Raleigh’s history.
Without an NHL-ready arena, the Triangle likely would never have been considered for a professional hockey franchise.
The Hartford Whalers Were Looking for a New Home
At the same time Raleigh was debating the arena, the Hartford Whalers were facing uncertainty in Connecticut.
Owner Peter Karmanos had spent years trying to secure a new arena agreement. When negotiations stalled, he began exploring relocation opportunities.
Raleigh’s newly approved arena project suddenly made the Triangle one of the most attractive options in the country.
Just a few months after the arena vote, Karmanos announced that the Whalers would relocate to North Carolina and become the Carolina Hurricanes.
It was a watershed moment for the region.
A Regional Victory
While many individuals played important roles, the effort reflected a broader partnership among business leaders, elected officials, Wake County, NC State University, and economic development advocates.
The Greater Raleigh Merchants Association was among the organizations championing a vision that Raleigh could become more than a state capital and college town. It could become a major league city.
John Odom stood at the intersection of those worlds, as a city council member making critical policy decisions and as the leader of an organization representing local businesses eager to see Raleigh grow.
From a Controversial Vote to a Championship Franchise
When the Hurricanes arrived in 1997, many questioned whether professional hockey could succeed in North Carolina.
The team initially played in Greensboro while the new arena was completed. Attendance challenges and skepticism followed.
But over time, the Hurricanes built a passionate fan base throughout the Carolinas.
In 1999, the team moved into the new arena in Raleigh. In 2006, they brought home the Stanley Cup. Today, the franchise is one of the most successful NHL markets in the American South and a significant economic driver for the region.
A Lasting Legacy
A Lasting Legacy
The arena that would become RBC Center, then PNC Arena, and now the Lenovo Center stands as a reminder of what can happen when community leaders think beyond the present and invest in the future.
For Raleigh’s business community, the arrival of the Carolina Hurricanes validated a vision that local merchants, civic leaders, and organizations like the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association had championed for years.
The story of the Hurricanes coming to Raleigh is not just a sports story.
It’s a story about economic development, community leadership, and a belief that Raleigh could compete with much larger cities on a national stage.
And at the center of that story is John Odom, a city council member, business advocate, and Executive Director of the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association. His support for a larger arena helped pave the way for one of the most transformative moments in Raleigh’s modern history.
Editorial Note: The Greater Raleigh Merchants Association continues today as Shop Local Raleigh, representing and supporting locally owned businesses throughout Wake County. The organization’s mission of strengthening local businesses and building a vibrant community remains rooted in the same spirit of civic leadership and economic development that helped shape Raleigh’s growth during the 1990s.
