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Having transit access to a major sporting/event facility is definitely key for those who would take that option. I was riding the light rail in Charlotte back in March from the UNCC area to SouthEnd, and the train was empty until we stopped at the Spectrum Center. It filled up so much with Hornets fans from the game that had just ended that I almost couldn’t get off the train when we reached my stop. If a similar option could be provided for an arena that served the Canes and potentially Wolfpack sports as well, I think people would seriously consider using it.
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Interesting, following on the article posted elsewhere on these threads about the Canes having the best fanbase due in part to tailgating…
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Yeah, I don’t see Canes fans clamouring for a downtown arena that won’t like it host tailgates like the current location does.
For sure. This is one of the reasons why I am not anxious to have a sporting facility take up space in our actual downtown area. Pro sport experiences have been designed to keep people spending within the gates, not outside of them. If we were a giant metro like Chicago where Cubs’ fans that can’t get in the game are plentiful, then I could see some value in dropping a venue in a dense urban neighborhood like they have there. Cities like Chicago also have miles and miles of urban neighborhood districts while Raleigh has very little. I’d choose building more urban neighborhoods over a sport venue downtown every day of the week.
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Also, realize that politics are at play. (At the moment) The Canes don’t want to move downtown, they want money to modernize the PNC. That’s on their agenda and they are doing all they can to get that money.
The commissioner was in town to push for upgrades and now this article ranking the Canes as the top fanbase. I love the Canes and I hope they never leave, but the honest truth is, we don’t have the #1 fanbase in the NHL. We have a loyal fanbase for sure, and a unique one at that, but it’s not better than Montreal, Chicago, etc.
So was this clickbait? Or was this paid for?
Ah, thanks for drawing my attention to that. I turned off notifications for the sports/stadium thread because it was becoming such an unproductive, argumentative space. That certainly is something to keep in mind.
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Bar-golf used to be confined to Hillsborough St. i guess now it can be done by bikeshare on bike path from DTS to Downtown proper and then bus ride home to crash.
I do agree with your piece about the article. Writing about how the Canadiens, Rangers and Jets have the best fans every year is boring. Picking the Canes when they’re good drives clicks.
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Hold up. Can you park in the office parking at Wade Park for any PNC events? I don’t go to a lot of events at PNC but I am going to a concert there in the coming months. Also where is this pedestrian tunnel??? If I can park at Wade Park for events, that could make life so much easier. When events end, can you turn left out of Wade Park onto Edwards Mill to get on Wade Ave?
This never occurred to me because Westchase on Blue Ridge is such a stickler over parking. During the state fair, they actively police their parking lots so no one can park there. They even have people out by the street to make sure no Fair goers park.
Yes to everything you asked. I live in the houses behind there and people do all of that for every event. If you follow the sidewalk on the left hand side walking towards Edwards Mill after you park, it takes you down a slope into the tunnel.
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So you have some limited options in Wade Park. The garages are off-limits and require a parking pass (I never really see security enforcing that, but I wouldn’t want to risk getting towed regardless). However, there’s some on-street parking along Wade Park Blvd, including the “roundabout” (if you can call it that), that is limited to two hours during office hours but is unrestricted on nights and weekends. Early bird gets the worm sort of thing.
As for the tunnel, see below! No crosswalk on Wade Park Blvd between Edwards Mill and the roundabout, so make sure you stay on the northern sidewalk coming down the hill. Oh, and the Edwards Mill/Wade Park intersection remains fully open and operational during events (as does GoRaleigh 26 because I complained about them rerouting it a couple years ago).
(Edit: @GucciLittlePig beat me to it, but hopefully this is helpful.)
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Thanks. After I posted, I went on found the tunnel on Google maps. But thank you for that! I’m actually at Wade Park maybe once a week for some thing or another. I am with a construction company that does A LOT of office upfits out there. Currently a lot of stuff at Wade V, as you can imagine. Anyway, I say that just to say I’ve never had any problems parking in the lots behind those buildings. I didn’t even know they were parking pass, but I’ll have to keep that in mind in the future!
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Yep, I have a pass on my windshield, but, like I said, I never see them enforce it. Then again, you never know, so if they decide they wanna start being mean about it, you could potentially find yourself calling a tow company at 10:00p.
Best bet is to beat the punch and grab one of those street spots.
I work in Wade Park too, and also have a sticker for the deck. There has been a car parked in our deck for months and is covered with pollen. Clearly they aren’t enforcing parking at this point. Eventually once Wade V fills up (assuming ppls actually come into the office) deck will fill up more and may be more enforced.
Sounds like the next meetup should be at Bru’s… We can discuss, um, the proximity of PNC to downtown? 
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I might get a rash if I go that far out of DTR for too long.
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I may actually have to stick around and go to that Meet Up 
Yeah, have you seen the price of ITB air these days? I just can’t afford to leave any more.
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Lol! I think you go to Bru’s more than I do, and it’s the one bar that’s actually walkable for me.
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Haha, we got an email about that car last week. Property manager said they were gonna tow it on the 20th. Haven’t been down there to see if it’s gone, I usually park on the top deck when I drive.
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