Crews lift 530 pieces of black plastic to reveal the Hurricanes’ home ice. | Video provided by the Lenovo Center, gif by RALtoday
Hardwood to ice in just a few hours — 232 basketball court pieces, 530 ice coverings, leaf blowers, forklifts, three retractable basketball hoops, checkerboard-placed plastic, hockey helmets, a grocery cart, and yes, a bomb-sniffing dog.
That’s what it takes to flip the Lenovo Center from an NC State men’s basketball game to a same-day Carolina Hurricanes matchup — all thanks to 500+ crew members.
With 150+ basketball and hockey games, concerts, comedy shows, and even rodeo events per year, the Lenovo Center changeover process is a well-oiled machine. We got a firsthand look at the same-day transformations and how quickly the ice is revealed before fans can be welcomed in.
Lenovo Center VP and General Manager Tom Embrey told me it’s not a matter of inches between fans and the ice during a basketball game, but centimeters.
Mac’s Speed Shop shut the doors on its Five Points location near the Rialto. The spot opened in March 2024 and served burgers, barbecue, and beer. We’ll let you know what’s next for this storefront. (Raleigh Magazine)
Try This
Vidrio will launch a new chef’s table experience starting Wednesday, Jan. 28. The dinner series will be held every other month, and January’s menu features flavors from Southern France. Grab your seat.
Is it hot in here? Texas Pete is the most popular hot sauce in NC, according to new data from Instacart. If you ask us, hot sauce pairs well with one of these local lunches that won’t break the bank.
The Word
Bongo. That was the Wordle answer that stumped the most players in 2025. Ready to redeem yourself this year? Fire up a fresh winning streak in RALtoday’s Games portal. (TODAY)
Real Estate
A new record-breaking condo recently sold for $21 million in Las Vegas, with skyline views of Sin City from within a prestigious country club. Here in Raleigh, the most expensive condo we could find on the market is spectacular, too. (Realtor)
Featured Deal
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The Buy
We sifted through thousands of Nordstrom Rack deals to bring you five you don’t want to miss. Add them to your cart before they’re gone.
🛍️ Score these rarely-on-sale UGG slippers that are marked down to under $100.
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🛍️ Stun in this versatile cowl neck satin blouse that’s on sale for under $30.
🛍️ Don’t miss these top-rated flare leggings that are over 70% off.
I hope you had as much fun with today’s story about the Lenovo Center as I did. The Lenovo Center does approximately 75 changeovers a year, so give this crew some props the next time you’re at a hockey or basketball game.
Watch as the changeover crew methodically removes the hardwood.
Video provided by the Lenovo Center, gif by RALtoday
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