Durham Bulls go red and black for Hockey Night

The Durham Bulls, Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, will don jerseys and caps inspired by their in-state neighbors, the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, who play about 20 miles away from Durham in Raleigh. The Bulls will ditch their familiar blue and brown in favor of Hurricanes red and black for one night, Thursday, August 23, for a game against the Gwinnett Stripers.

The game will feature both baseball- and hockey-related promotions, as well as appearances by Hurricanes mascot Stormy (careful if you do an image search on that name) and the Pepsi Storm Squad (whose job is to “pump up the crowds with cheers and skits and to facilitate in-game promotions,” according to the Hurricanes’ website).

“Partnering with the Hurricanes for a theme night is going to be fun and exciting for our fans,” Bulls Vice President Mike Birling said, quoted on MiLB.com. “We’re eager to combine two of the largest sports brands in North Carolina for an evening fun, and we’re looking forward to making a strong donation to the Kids ‘N Community Foundation.”

The jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit the Hurricanes’ charity, the aforementioned Kids ‘N Community foundation.