Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today issued the following statement regarding the Charlotte Checkers’ potential move to Bojangles’ Coliseum. The Checkers seek to return to the arena where they played their first home game in 1956. The team has played at Time Warner Cable Arena since 2005.

PHOTO CREDIT - HometownHockey.ca

Raleigh - November 30, 2014 - Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today issued the following statement regarding the Charlotte Checkers’ potential move to Bojangles’ Coliseum. The Checkers seek to return to the arena where they played their first home game in 1956. The team has played at Time Warner Cable Arena since 2005.

The deal is contingent upon a Charlotte City Council vote to approve $16 million in funding for renovations to the Coliseum that are necessary to raise the building to American Hockey League (AHL) standards. The vote will take place on Dec. 8.

“We fully support the Checkers’ organization as it seeks to return to its roots on Independence Boulevard,” said Francis. “From all angles, this seems like a positive move for Checkers fans and staff and for our NHL prospects playing in Charlotte.”