Carolina Hurricanes tailgaters battle heat wave ahead of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup
By Alli Pardue and
Ben Pennington
Raleigh
Inside the Lenovo Center Thursday afternoon, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights were preparing to battle it out for the series lead in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Outside the arena, fans were facing a battle of their own — against the heat.
Gina Donati, left, and Chris Gagliano along with their friends and family cool down in a 10-foot by 6-foot pool in the back of a Ford F-250 while tailgating before the Hurricanes’ game against the Golden Knights in the fifth game of the Stanley Cup Final at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 11, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Thursday marked the start of an early summer heat wave for the Triangle, with forecasted highs expected to hit triple digits through the weekend. It hit 100 degrees in Raleigh Thursdy, and the humidity made it feel even hotter.
Aside from enjoying the usual assortment of cold drinks and pop-up canopy tents, Canes tailgaters were spotted bobbing for cold apples, drinking off an ice sculpture, dunking in pools, driving a robotic cooler on wheels, spraying mist and running electronic fans galore to help stay cool.
Cam Gross bobs for apples in the parking lot of the Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Dougie Welch takes a bite from an apple he scored while apple bobbing in the parking lot outside the Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Paul Esterline chisels the edge of the CaneEvels Ice Luge in the parking lot of the Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Paul Esterline chisels the edge of the CaneEvels Ice Luge with a Busch Light Apple beer can in the parking lot of the Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Notably fewer fans populated the Thursday tailgate, as compared to Games 1 and 2 of the series, likely due to in part to the high temperatures. It’s possible the lack of a pre-game concert with famous musicians kept the Caniacs from the outdoor festivities. Brothers Osborne performed outside Lenovo Center for Game 1, and Dan + Shay took the stage for Game 2.
Still, Canes fans spread out across the parking lots to party, play miniature hockey, sing and enjoy their usual pregame rituals.
Evidently, the storm can handle the heat.
James White celebrates on the shoulders of a family friend, Austin Rybkin, as the Carolina Hurricanes score their third point against the Vegas Golden Knights during a watch party for game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals outside the Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Kooper Vena dances alongside friends during a watch party for game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals outside the Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Xander Ham, Hudson Crucitti, and Rowan Dombroski play field hockey in the parking lot outside the Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Matt Carden, (from right) a member of the CaneEvels fan group, sings alongside his buddies Jesse Sandoval, Ryan McCauley, Adam Averkamp and Donnie Robinson, in the parking lot outside the Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
A baby Yoda doll dressed in Carolina Hurricanes merchandise sits atop the CaneEvel’s mock Stanley Cup—constructed with Coors Light beer cans— outside the Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Matt Carden, (from right) a member of the CaneEvels fan group, sings alongside his buddies Jesse Sandoval, Ryan McCauley, Adam Averkamp and Donnie Robinson, in the parking lot outside the Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Myranda Miller and Kaleb Snide (L-R) keep themselves cool with a miniature pool in the parking lot of the Lenovo Center on June 11, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Alli Pardue is on the Audience Growth team, creating content and working to find the best ways to deliver the news to N&O readers. She also writes some news and the occasional human interest story.
