I would avoid the broad brush of generalizing Cary residents. East Cary (including DT Cary) is a whole other world than West Cary, much like East Raleigh vs North Raleigh.
I’m thrilled that Cary has WakeMed Soccer Park on the east side of town for these NCAA/National Team Soccer events NCAA Cross Country events (also at WakeMed) and the NCAA Baseball events at USA Baseball Training Center on the west side of town. These events help the whole area, since they often have games played in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, too. And they’re events that are geared for adults and kids (pandemic aside)
I go back and forth if the entire Downtown South Soccer complex is really much better option than the existing Soccer Park plus Fenton (since it is being built right next door) for its immediate location, seeing how neither Soccer park is in a downtown or urban core.
Here's why
If Downtown South was going into the Southern Gateway or even the Cargill Site, than I would definitely consider that a location upgrade and be thrilled that DT Raleigh would have NCFC/NC Courage/potentially all of these NCAA events.
If Downtown South guaranteed that NCFC would become MLS? Then heck yeah, sign me up. But do they need more than WakeMed’s 10k capacity for a lower level team?
But I wouldn’t consider either location to be Downtown. Including the area immediately outside of both stadium areas? Yes, definitely DT Raleigh is a much bigger and better draw than DT Cary. But neither stadium location is in the urban core of their towns (at this moment). Both Downtown South and WakeMed Soccer Park sites are a 38 minute / 1.9 mile walk to their respective Amtrak stations downtown. Fenton will be right next door to WakeMed, once Trinity Road is extended. WakeMed would likely be closer to a commuter rail station, but that’s a whole other discussion
Changing one non-downtown location for another? It doesn’t seem as much of a “gamechanger” to me. Downtown South has more potential for its immediate area, sure, but I don’t think it’s that wide of a gap. All of this said, in 10-20 years if DT Raleigh is stretched more towards Downtown South, then it could have more of an urban feel. But by then, I imagine Malik will want a new stadium…
West Raleigh becomes east Cary seamlessly. Even I40 is the de facto dividing line between the two cities, the experience driving 54 across it doesn’t change because you’ve entered a different municipality. Similarly, the whole Fenton project is going to be more convenient to Raleigh residents along that segment of Western Blvd that becomes Cary Towne Blvd., than it is to most of Cary. Even the current soccer complex straddles the line of Cary and Raleigh. Even the Legends Cary Towne apartments are actually in Raleigh.
Anyone else watching the Canes game tonight and missing John Forslund? Don’t get me wrong; I like Maniscalco but I will never understand Tom Dundon’s reasoning for letting Forslund go…
I’m sure it had something to do with money, but seriously. Seattle Kraken gets THE best announcer in hockey to start their franchise off right and the Hurricanes just have one more puzzling decision in a string of them. I don’t think anyone anywhere in the NHL thinks Dundon made a good decision. Unless Forslund walked into his office and said, “Give me a controlling stake in team ownership or I walk.” And even then…
I believe that Dundun wanted to change the pay structure based on the NHL playing fewer games this year. Forslund did not like the deal and did not sign the contract. So, he walked.
Great News!!! UNC Basketball just hired Hubert Davis as their head coach. Sorry to inform you State fans that UNC will still beat you on a regular basis.
I kinda doubt it, but it’s worth a shot!!! But Malik better get with Dundon. It team up they could form a bigger duo than steppers since MLS is only on money. Otherwise Dundon needs to focus on bringing an MLB team Major League Baseball team to Raleigh. I’ve tweeted at him the idea but he been idle on Twitter since after he brought the Canes.
Something interested / semi related. NCFC stepped down from USL championship to USL league 1 this year to focus on developing their academy. So if we ever do get MLS it looks like we’ll be starting a new franchise from the group up rather than promoting our existing club. From what I’ve seen throughout the last few years starting new does yield to better immediate results. Really hope we can get a team here. Rivalries with Charlotte and probably Atlanta and DC would be nice
If they do start a new club, I want Raleigh in its name. We already played nice with the Hurricanes by using “Carolina” and get no brand value for the city.
