© Devon Gerena/Carolina Hurricanes

RALEIGH, NC. – It has been a summer of change for the Carolina Hurricanes.

The team not only lost six regular lineup players in free agency earlier this month, but they also had a major gap to fill in their front office when President & General Manager Don Waddell resigned in May.

While the hockey portion of the position was taken care of with the promotion of then-Assistant General Manager Eric Tulsky on June 18, the organization still needed someone, or as we know now, multiple people to spearhead the business side of the club.

Enter President Doug Warf and CEO Brian Fork.

At an introductory press conference at PNC Arena on Wednesday, the team’s new power duo addressed reporters and discussed the new leadership structure, while also fielding questions.

Why three people for positions previously held by one individual?

In summary, the organization is about to undertake an unparalleled amount of work.

Both men referenced the 20-year lease agreement announced last August and the mixed-use district and arena enhancements shared in June countless times, and it’s clear that the ball is ready to continue moving forward on those projects.

The organization gains strength in numbers by having two men working on the tasks, without either of them needing to be involved in hockey operations.

“As part of his opening remarks, Fork expressed that they are preparing for a significant increase in activities within the building, surrounding areas and parking lots, compared to any previous period. He openly stated that they needed additional personnel to assist in coordinating everything with their existing team,”.

The PNC Arena’s interior is slated for $300M improvements as part of the cited development projects, with construction set to commence in 2025.

The land development outside the arena encompasses 200,000 square feet for entertainment and lifestyle retail, a hotel with 150 keys, over 500 apartments, with 10% dedicated to affordable housing not exceeding 80% of the area’s median income levels, and 150,000 square feet for office space. Plans also include a new 4,300-seat ballroom, which will be managed by Live Nation.

Tom Dundon is extremely serious about the possibility of introducing a Major League Baseball franchise to Raleigh, by the way.

Calling the plans (and hopes) transformational might be underselling them.

“Warf reiterated, “This is a testament to Tom’s intentions and aspirations here. As Brian and I discussed further, we gained deeper insight into Tom’s vision. If that doesn’t excite you, there’s something amiss with you.”

The team and passion for MLB keeps growing. ⚾️#RaleighOnDeck pic.twitter.com/Eoxfmo2EsQ

— MLBRaleigh (@MLBRaleigh) July 31, 2024

Who will be handling what in their roles?

As previously noted, both men unequivocally asserted their non-involvement in any decisions made on the ice. The ball is in your court, Eric Tulsky and team.

Regarding who is handling the daily operations and development plans of the organization, both have strongly emphasized that they will be closely coordinating at every step.

Fork emphasized the unity of their approach, stating, “Our work will be a joint venture. There won’t be any individual tasks like ‘Brian does this, and these people assist Brian’ or ‘Doug handles this, and these others support Doug.'”

However, as the two continue their discussion, it becomes clear that both Warf and Fork are uniquely suited for their roles. Warf, who started his journey with the Canes as an unpaid intern years ago and has since worked for 16 seasons with the organization, and Fork, who has a significant political background in the state, find their experiences perfectly tailored to their responsibilities.

Fork explained his role as CEO would primarily involve managing the renovation’s overall scope, collaborating with the Dallas-based development company, PacElm, and focusing on the baseball aspect. Despite these responsibilities, he emphasized that the building and the hockey team would remain the most significant part of the operation, requiring a substantial portion of his time. He intends to ensure all the different parts work in harmony. Alternatively, Doug will concentrate on the traditional aspects of PNC Arena, the team, ticket sales, promotions, and other related areas.

Warf, who held positions in Community Relations, Marketing, and Ticketing from 2001-2017 in his first stint with the organization, is now in charge and making decisions from the top.

“From what I’ve noticed during my brief time back, the culture and spirit here are the strongest I’ve seen in a long while,” Warf responded when asked about the differences he’s observed. “Tom has set high expectations, and the team here understands that and is eager to rise to the challenge.”

OG 233: Carolina Hurricanes CEO Brian Fork and President Doug Warf joined me and @giglio_OG to discuss the process of bringing Major League Baseball to Raleigh, PNC Arena upgrades and more.

: https://t.co/dujA8zXJYM
: https://t.co/qaawYtvmmO pic.twitter.com/RqvrJUjD9R

— Joe Ovies (@joeovies) July 31, 2024

Worth A Click

Eric Staal Announces Retirement, Number To Be Retired

Necas Signed To Two-Year Contract

Final Thoughts From 2024 Prospects Development Camp

Canes See Legault As ‘Ready For The Next Challenge’

Brian Fork Named CEO of Hurricanes Holding, LLC

Abbott Emphasizing Relationships Before First Season In Chicago

Unger Sorum ‘Taking Things Day-By-Day’ Ahead Of 2024-25 Season

Doug Warf Named President of Hurricanes Holding, LLC

Regular Season Schedule Announced For 2024-25

2024 Offseason Player Tracker

Draft Knowledge: Learn More About Carolina’s Picks

Kochetkov Named To NHL’s All-Rookie Team

Aho Named To Finnish Team For 4 Nations Faceoff

Mixed-Use District And Arena Enhancement Coming To PNC Arena