Downtown Raleigh Entertainment District

Downtown South - A new southern gateway for Downtown Raleigh

The proposed Downtown Raleigh Entertainment District sits on approximately 55 acres at downtown Raleigh’s southern edge at the intersection of South Saunders Street, South Wilmington Street, and Interstate 40. The development includes a multi-purpose, 20,000-seat open-air Downtown Sports & Entertainment Stadium surrounded by more than $1.9 billion in private development of street-level retail, office space, and housing. The stadium will become the home of the North Carolina Football Club, including its men's pro soccer team, North Carolina FC, and its women's pro soccer team, North Carolina Courage, and accommodate a variety of marquee events, including concerts, festivals, graduations, trade shows, and championship-level sporting events.

The project is expected to generate substantial benefits to the economy, both locally and statewide. A recent independent economic impact study commissioned through Economic Leadership LLC, concludes that over the next 15 years the Downtown Raleigh Entertainment District would generate $3.8 billion in economic activity for Wake County. Additionally, the project would generate 5,900 jobs in Wake County, $20 million in annual city/county property tax revenue, and $3.7 million in new annual Interlocal Funds contributions.

The Downtown Raleigh Entertainment District will be a catalyst for growth in Raleigh, attracting tourists, sports and entertainment fans, and businesses from across the region. The development surrounding the stadium will be built with a private investment of $1.9 billion and will include:

1.6 million square feet of office space

125,000 square feet of retail and service space (stores, bars and restaurants)

1,200 hotel rooms

1,750 residential units

Ample green space and public areas

Connectivity to Triangle Greenways, Dix Park, and State Farmers Market

Driving Economic Impact for Raleigh, Wake County & State

North Carolina

$4.1 billion net present value in economic activity during operations
$473 million in average annual economic activity during operations
$3.3 billion in additional economic activity during construction
10,610 jobs supported during construction
3,610 average annual number of jobs created during operations
$5.4 million average annual state income tax revenue
$1.6 million average annual state sales tax revenue

Wake County

$3.8 billion net present value in economic activity during operations
$438 million in average annual economic activity during operations
$2.4 billion in economic activity during construction
5,900 jobs supported during construction
2,710 average annual number of jobs created during operations
$20.3 million average annual county/city property tax revenue
$3.7 million average annual Interlocal Funds tax revenue
$0.6 million average annual sales tax revenue

Downtown Raleigh

$3.2 billion net present value in economic activity during operations
$361 million in average annual economic activity during operations
$1.4 billion in economic activity during construction
1,190 jobs supported during construction
1,350 average annual number of jobs created during operations
$8.1 million average annual city property tax revenue

Driving Tourism, Promoting Equity

Raleigh is the only major city in NC without a downtown stadium

Stadium and district are expected to generate more than 315,000 hotel room nights annually

Serves needs of local colleges and universities who lack access to fields

Visitor spending in district will generate $84 million in annual hotel and retail revenue

75 major events annually (North Carolina FC, North Carolina Courage, concerts, festivals, graduations, championship-level sporting events, etc.)

100s of smaller events each year (conferences, trade shows, job fairs, large-scale faith-based events, watch parties, etc.)

Project Timeline

Driving Tourism, Promoting Equity

Raleigh is the only major city in NC without a downtown stadium

Stadium and district are expected to draw more than 800K additional overnight visitors per year that will generate over 315K new hotel room nights per year

Serves needs of local colleges and universities who lack access to fields

Visitor spending in district will generate $84 million in annual hotel and retail revenue

75 major events annually (North Carolina FC, North Carolina Courage, concerts, festivals, graduations, championship-level sporting events, etc.)

100s of smaller events each year (conferences, trade shows, job fairs, large-scale faith-based events, watch parties, etc.)

Preliminary Designs

Completed

Finalized Location

Completed

Design Development

Late 2019

Break Ground

2020

Stadium and First Phase Complete

2023

Take Action Now! Please email your County Commissioner, your local City Council Member, and our two at-large City Council Members, who are expected to vote on awarding Interlocal Funds in July.

Simply find your zip code below and then click the link to your elected official to send him/her an email. For your convenience, here is a sample letter that you can use to send to your representatives

Sig Hutchinson

Wake County Commissioner - District 1

Zip codes: 27545, 27571, 27587, 27591, 27596, 27597, 27604, 27610, 27616

Ask him to vote for us!

Matt Calabria

Wake County Commissioner - District 2

Zip codes: 27501, 27502, 27520, 27526, 27529, 27539, 27540, 27562, 27592, 27603, 27610

Ask him to vote for us!

Jessica Holmes

Wake County Commissioner - District 3

Zip codes: 27502, 27511, 27513, 27519, 27523, 27713

Ask her to vote for us!

Susan Evans

Wake County Commissioner - District 4

Zip codes: 27518, 27539, 27605, 27606

Ask her to vote for us!

James West

Wake County Commissioner - District 5

Zip codes: 27529, 27545, 27601, 27604, 27605, 27608, 27610

Ask him to vote for us!

Greg Ford

Wake County Commissioner - District 6

Zip codes: 27522, 27587, 27609, 27613, 27614, 27615

Ask him to vote for us!

Vickie Adamson

Wake County Commissioner - District 7

Zip codes: 27560, 27607, 27608, 27609, 27612, 27613, 27615, 27617, 27703

Ask her to vote for us!

Nicole Stewart

Raleigh City Council - At-large member

Zip code: Represents every zip code in the City of Raleigh.

Ask her to vote for us!

Russ Stephenson

Raleigh City Council - At-large member

Zip code: Represents every zip code in the City of Raleigh.

Ask him to vote for us!

Dickie Thompson

Raleigh City Council - District A

Zip Codes: 27615; 27609; 27613; 27612; 27616

Ask him to vote for us!

David Cox

Raleigh City Council - District B

Zip codes: 27604, 27609, 27610, 27614, 27616

Ask him to vote for us!

Corey Branch

Raleigh City Council - District C

Zip Codes: 27529, 27545, 27601, 27604, 27610, 27616

Ask him to vote for us!

Kay Crowder

Raleigh City Council - District D

Zip codes: 27511, 27513, 27603, 27601, 27605, 27606, 27607

Ask her to vote for us!

Stef Mendell

Raleigh City Council - District E

Zip codes: 27607, 27608, 27609, 27612, 27613, 27617

Ask her to vote for us!

Nancy McFarlane

Mayor - City of Raleigh

Zip codes: Represents every zip code in the City of Raleigh

Ask her to vote for us!

Downtown Raleigh Entertainment District

​

The Downtown Raleigh Entertainment District will be a catalyst for growth in Raleigh, attracting tourists, sports and entertainment fans, and businesses from across the region. The development surrounding the stadium will be built with a private investment of $1.9 billion and will include:

1.6 million square feet of office space

125,000 square feet of retail and service space (stores, bars and restaurants)

1,200 hotel rooms

1,750 residential units

Ample green space and public areas

Connectivity to Triangle Greenways, Dix Park, and State Farmers Market

Driving Economic Impact for Raleigh, Wake County & State

North Carolina

Wake County

Downtown Raleigh

Driving Tourism, Promoting Equity

Raleigh is the only major city in NC without a downtown stadium

Stadium and district are expected to generate more than 315,000 hotel room nights annually

Serves needs of local colleges and universities who lack access to fields

Visitor spending in district will generate $84 million in annual hotel and retail revenue

75 major events annually (North Carolina FC, North Carolina Courage, concerts, festivals, graduations, championship-level sporting events, etc.)

100s of smaller events each year (conferences, trade shows, job fairs, large-scale faith-based events, watch parties, etc.)

Project Timeline

Driving Tourism, Promoting Equity

Raleigh is the only major city in NC without a downtown stadium

Stadium and district are expected to draw more than 800K additional overnight visitors per year that will generate over 315K new hotel room nights per year

Serves needs of local colleges and universities who lack access to fields

Visitor spending in district will generate $84 million in annual hotel and retail revenue

75 major events annually (North Carolina FC, North Carolina Courage, concerts, festivals, graduations, championship-level sporting events, etc.)

100s of smaller events each year (conferences, trade shows, job fairs, large-scale faith-based events, watch parties, etc.)

Preliminary Designs

Finalized Location

Design Development

Break Ground

Stadium and First Phase Complete

Take Action Now! Please email your County Commissioner, your local City Council Member, and our two at-large City Council Members, who are expected to vote on awarding Interlocal Funds in July.

Sig Hutchinson

Matt Calabria

Jessica Holmes

Susan Evans

James West

Greg Ford

Vickie Adamson

Nicole Stewart

Russ Stephenson

Dickie Thompson

David Cox

Corey Branch

Kay Crowder

Stef Mendell

Nancy McFarlane