The Whalers left Ahrtford not because of an inadequate facilty, but because the facility they had could not be modified to include more "luxury boxes" of the type so loved by corporate America, which considers a company box to be a worthwhile business expense, but which, consequently, knows nothing of the game.
The "Canes deal (I live in NC now) included a taxpayer-funded facility with luxury boxes up the ying-yang, but not enough fans (i.e. transplanted Yankees) willing to shell out $75 for a top-tier ticket. If ticket prices were more reasonable, I guarentee you that building in Raleigh would be full every night, playoffs or not. It's bad enough that the only sports action around here are ACC football and basketball and NASCAR. Reasonably-priced hockey would have drawn a ton of people.
It's simple economics: luxury boxes = corporate support = ticket price increase for fans. The owner wins either way. What no one seems to have thought about is that when you depend soley on corporate income, you lose at the gate, and in this day of expanding salaries, you need every dollar you can get.
IIRC luxury box revenues go straight to the owners. The league gets no cut as they do from the rest of the gate.
Luxury boxes are also loved by team owners. In all 4 of the major sports a lower percentage of luxury box gate goes to the visitors than the regular seats. Also, since they're up where the cheap seats go, they just generally make more money ticket for ticket.