Huge changes are coming to the formerly called PNC arena and the area surrounding it. The arena adopted its new name: the Lenovo Center. A redevelopment plan for the future Raleigh’s Sports and Entertainment District has a 15-year timeline and a one billion mixed-use project budget.
“Personally, I am a huge fan of the name change and the PNC arena upgrades because my dad works at Lenovo. I’ve heard through the grapevine that Lenovo employees will receive free tickets, so now I can go to the games for free,” said Emma Thomas, junior.
The new Lenovo Center has a 300 million dollar improvement budget. There are many potential options of how to use the money and where to start the renovations. The first project is scheduled to start in the summer of 2025 and will be the expansion of the loading-dock area on the North side of the building.
The former PNC Arena is home to the Carolina Hurricanes, a team in the National Hockey League, as well as North Carolina State’s men’s basketball team. The Carolina Hurricanes lease is extended through the 2044 season, adding 20 years onto their contract, helping to speed up the approval process of the development plan.
“I think the new improvement plan is really cool. It will bring a whole new experience to watching the games and tailgating. There’s going to be a concert space and other stuff added too so it should be pretty fun,” said Paxton Cruikshank, senior.
The new plan is set to include 150,000 square feet of office space and 200,000 square feet of entertainment and retail space. A concert venue, seating up to 4,300 people that is operated by Live Nation, an international entertainment company will also be added. As well as a 150-room hotel and 500 apartments, “10% of those units will be set aside for affordable housing for residents making less than 80% of the area’s median income.”
While Raleigh residents may not be able to experience the fully finished plan for around 15 years, there is a lot to look forward to. Some renovations will be finished in the near future, making early projects available and done before others for the public to enjoy.
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