This is way better than the official plans lmao. Do the original plans even include retail spaces? I can’t remember…if not that’s a huge miss, this area is gonna need all the foot traffic it can get, especially after the expansion
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This is why I’m advocating for a bigger, modernized Performance Art Center that can doubles as the premier downtown indoor concert venue.
But just a pipe dream, City of Raleigh is really happy having the second best PAC in the region, apparently.
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There is no competing with DPAC which is a top 10 PAC in the country based on foot traffic. Find something else to focus on. DPAC is just a huge win for Durham.
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Man this looks good, run this puppy by, Councilor Melton this is a great idea, I personally think Raleigh needs more that just another plain jane Convention Center,Raleigh has to step it up against cities like Nashville,Charlotte and Austin it can’t be just simply bigger we need out of the box thinking and something they don’t have or a better combination of thing.
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Top 10 due to Wake County patronage. That’s missing out on culture and money.
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I was at DPAC on Saturday! Honestly as long as the region has a top performing arts center I’m good, and it’s a good reason to go eat and drink in Downtown Durham’s fun spots.
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Agreed. I’d rather have a much improved RHA and Raleigh grabs outdoor entertainment while DPAC dominates inside
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You just gave a reason why Downtown Raleigh struggles to capture those fun spots.
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The City has released the RFQ for the convention center expansion and Red Hat relocation. Responses are due November 2, and the city hopes to make a selection in December.
They want the new Red Hat to have a capacity of 7,000.
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FYI, Austin is also planning a Convention Center expansion. (Basically replacing in-place in phases.) They are opening up what currently is a 3 combined block to reconnect two streets and create more active frontage. Kinda seems like a model we should follow.
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“Street activation? How dare you! Only blank, hostile walls should surround the convention center! That’s how we have been doing it that how it should be!” – City of Raleigh/CC Authority.
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Some street activation really would be prime time at an updated convention center. Some restaurants / bars could really benefit from the traffic Red Hat & the Convention Center create.
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This is a great idea. On a similar note, per Austin’s Convention Center website: “We’re located at the epicenter of downtown Austin. Our venue is surrounded by more than 12,000 downtown hotel rooms within a two-mile radius” 12,000 hotel rooms within 2 miles is impressive.
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This should seem obvious, but do they plan on doing the amphitheater as a first phase so that it can continuously operate while everything else around it goes up?
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The difference between Raleigh & Durham. They are not conceding the convention business like Raleigh conceded the performing art shows. I really wish Raleigh would consider building a new performing arts center
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Raleigh is literally in the process of expanding the convention center, what are you even talking about
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Ok you’re completely misreading what @Unique12b is saying lmao. He’s saying we shouldn’t just allow Durham/DPAC to get all the big traveling musical productions and huge theater shows and build a new, state-of-the-art performing arts center, ourselves. His post wasn’t about our Convention Center, but rather the fact that Durham is considering building one of their own rather than continue letting Raleigh get all the big conventions. Reading comprehension is our friend!
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But also I think the market for convention centers is larger than the market for Broadway-style shows.
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I’ll add that this reinforces what I was talking about a couple of months ago regarding Raleigh just letting Durham take a huge chunk of the theater market from Raleigh when the city did not react to what Durham was doing, and we didn’t improve our own performing arts complex to compete.
IMO, Raleigh plays the regional cooperation game while our neighbors steal our candy from right under our noses. Raleigh used to “own” traveling Broadway acts and just sat by and did nothing when Durham announced that they were building a performance arts center: one that undoubtedly has MANY patrons from Raleigh/Wake. These patrons no longer come to downtown Raleigh Broadway shows, eat in our restaurants, or grab a drink at a lounge afterward. They go to Durham. As a result, even Raleigh’s homegrown and beloved Christmas Carol now splits its time with Durham, and yields its best show dates closer to the holiday to Durham. It’s pathetic.
Raleigh is not only the capital of the state, but it’s also the largest city in the Triangle and the entire eastern side of the state. Wake carries an ever growing majority of the population and Raleigh needs to start acting like the lead dog.
Tying this back to the convention center, I’m glad that the city isn’t just sitting by and letting this business go elsewhere without a fight. I am also glad that this expansion includes an improved and relocated RedHat amphitheater since convention centers need to come with access to entertainment.
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