Charlotte Checkers owner Michael Kahn today announced his purchase of the AHL’s Albany River Rats, a Carolina Hurricanes affiliate. The AHL team’s new name will be the “Charlotte Checkers”, and the team will play its games in the Time Warner Cable basketball arena in Charlotte. The ECHL Charlotte Checkers will move elsewhere, likely to another North Carolina city if the team is not sold to another owner.

What this means to the Hurricanes is perhaps a strengthened fan base. As fans in the western part of the state follow the Charlotte team, they are bound to follow the players’ journeys up to Raleigh. It also greatly increases the chances of seeing the Carolina Hurricanes hold an exhibition game each year in Charlotte (after the already-booked 2010 preseason). Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford clearly made the point at the press conference today about this being a part of the franchise’s long term strategy of growing the sport of hockey in the state of North Carolina.

No need to worry about this being Part A of a takeover scheme by the powers that be in Charlotte. For an NHL team to move the Charlotte, a new arena would have to be built. The TWC Arena has a short axis, much like the Dean Smith Center and the U.S. Airways Center (home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns). The short axis makes for a superior basketball configuration, but results in an unacceptable compromise for hockey. There are several bad options, and the Charlotte Checkers have opted to bizarrely offset the ice such that one of the blue lines runs through the center of the building. The result is that there is absolutely no seating beyond the faceoff circles on one end of the ice.

As of October 2, Philadelphia’s public libraries will close due to budget constraints. All branch activities and programs will be shut down and all books are due by October 1. Of course, this move is pending emergency funding from the Pennsylvania State Legistlature, which will probably come through in the end. Nevertheless, in the era of the internet, it would be interesting to see how many people actually miss the public library’s facilities and services should funding not come through.

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The first Hotel Indigo for North Carolina is now open, according to TBJ. The 125-room boutique hotel sits in an office park setting a few hundred yards from the I-40/Miami Blvd interchange in RTP. The hotel features plush bedding, “hardwood-style” flooring with area rugs, 42” HDTVs, and a heated indoor pool.

map it

As summer dies down, the schedule seems to get busier. Monday begins Downtown Restaurant Week, which is a great way to get out and explore some of the great downtown restaurants. The Wake County Public Schools return to the class on Tuesday. On Thursday Tim Wilson begins his stay at Charlie Goodnights while The Embers play at North Hills. The NC Museum of Art begins one of its last features before its Winter hiatus. Gone With The Wind will be the outdoor movie as well as the theme for many features around the NCMA all weekend. Next weekend marks La Fiesta del Pueblo as well as the Body, Mind, Spirit Expo at the fairgrounds. Sunday is the big day for Friesen’s 5K Fun Run as well as this year’s Kenny Chesney show at Walnut Creek. See more details at the gogoraleigh Google Calendar. Let’s go do it!

The Polar Ice Houses in Wake Forest and Garner are planning a big day to melt away summer. Today will be their open house, which includes $1 admission and $2.50 skate rental, free food, DJ music, figure skating demonstrations, prizes and appearances with Icey the polar bear mascot. Special on-ice games will include:

• Turkey Bowling – Who knew there was another use for a frozen turkey? Slide the Thanksgiving bird down the ice for a strike in this unique and festive take on a traditional bowling game. Score the most strikes and you win!
• Ice Hockey Shoot-outs – Get in the spirit of the Carolina Hurricanes as you test your skills shooting the puck on net and scoring against other competitors.
• Sled Races – With the 2010 Vancouver Olympics around the corner, it’s time to jump on a sled and see if you’ve got what it takes to race your friends against the clock.

The event goes from 1pm to 4pm at both Polar Ice House locations

Polar Ice House Garner (map it)
103 New Rand Road
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 861-7465

Polar Ice House Wake Forest (map it)
1839-200 S. Main Street
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 453-1500

Well here’s something that looks like fun for the whole family. Alice Cooper’s Theatre of Death is coming to the Durham Performing Arts Center on September 30. Tickets go on sale on Friday (8/21) at 10am at Ticketmaster outlets.

Magician David Copperfield is coming for four shows at Durham’s performing arts center. The times are 5:30 and 8:30 for each day of October 20 and 21.

5:30 shows:

8:30 shows:

Durham’s performing arts center has snagged a date on The Fray’s tour. They are coming September 8th, and tickets go on sale tomorrow at Ticketmaster outlets.

Sorry to tease, but I can’t wait to unveil a new feature coming Monday; a new feature that just may be the end of me