Like sports? Want options?
Welcome to North Carolina!!
Months after the NFL Draft Picks, the Stanley Cup finals and—at least ‘round here—the ACC College Baseball Championship playoffs – TVs in many local restaurants are still blaring stats and scores and highlight reels when the games aren’t actively on, car flags are flying on game days, and the countdown to the official first day of football is on!
That’s all fun and good, you may be thinking, but WHAT does that have to do with commercial real estate in Wake Forest or Raleigh? We’re so glad you asked! 😉 Sports are not just a huge draw for families, but they’re great for business professionals, too—entertaining clients and investors, team building, employee recognition, donating to charities, etc. So where there is a strong sports culture, there is often potential for strong business growth…and businesses need spaces in which to work…and that’s where we come into the picture a little more clearly!!
Now that you’ve got the connection, let us share some of the awesome sports opportunities we have in the Wake Forest/Raleigh-Durham areas…and a little beyond!
You probably already know about some of North Carolina’s professional teams, such as the Carolina Hurricanes (RIGHT HERE in our backyard!!), and the Charlotte-based Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets. But if you thought the fun ended there…well, we have some great news for you!
Baseball:
Did you know we have not one, but TWO local Minor League Baseball teams?!
- Thanks in part to Kevin Costner’s 1988 blockbuster, “Bull Durham”, you may have heard about the Durham Bulls. Their home in downtown Durham, the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (affectionately pronounced locally as “D-BAP”), is a mere 30-40 minute drive from both Wake Forest and Downtown Raleigh.
- The smaller—but some would say more accessible and family-friendly—Carolina Mudcats serves a more rural crowd at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, where Muddy the Mudcat entertains fans young and old, and Friday Night Fireworks joins a slew of other fun events. “Mudcat Stadium” is a quick and easy 20-30 minute drive from both Downtown Raleigh and Wake Forest.
In addition to these super-fun Minor League teams, Raleigh is positioning to be the home of the next Major League Baseball team…when the League is ready, that is. Commissioner Rob Manfred has talked much over the last few years about expanding to 32 teams, and there’s optimism among many that we could be the home of the League’s newest team. Want to check it out? Go to MLBRaleigh for info…and if you’re interested, you can also sign the petition to bring the MLB into our backyard!
Wake Forest now has even more reason to love professional baseball. Three of our local students were drafted in this year’s Major League Baseball draft: Thayer Thomas (Boston Red Socks), Justin Kunz (LA Angels), and Tyler Driver (Seattle Mariners)! Congrats, guys!!
Football:
Yes, North Carolina’s professional football team is a couple hours to the West in Charlotte, but it’s a pretty easy day trip from Central NC, and who says it’s all about the pros?! With Duke, Carolina, and State right here, October and November are packed with tailgating parties and quests for bragging rights! (To be fair, State usually comes out on top pretty easily during football season, but Duke and Carolina leave State in the dust during basketball season, so it all balances out!)
Wake Forest has our own reason to brag about football lately. Our own Wake Forest High School football team has won the Division 1-A State Championship not once…not twice…but THREE TIMES in a row (2016, 2017, and 2018)! You can check out the highlights of the 2018 game here. WFHS has a phenomenal football team, and you’d better believe we’re proud of them!! We’re also enjoying watching some of our local boys shine in college and the NBA draft! Do the names Bryce Love or Dexter Lawrence ring any bells? Great football players and great guys!! We can’t wait to support them as they begin the careers of their dreams!!
Soccer:
Ever hear of the NCFC (formerly the Carolina Railhawks) or NC Courage? If not, you may soon! The Owner of NCFC and NC Courage, Steve Malik, is working diligently with other investors to bring professional soccer to downtown Raleigh in a BIG way!! Currently, the men and women’s soccer leagues play in Cary, but if Malik gets his way, a major stadium development will make the couple-mile jump to Raleigh. It’s a pretty impressive mixed-use proposition—a North Hills-style groove of live/work/play…but with a 10-acre stadium—designed to create an economic boom for Southeast Raleigh and bring opportunities for locals. We’ll be watching that one!
UPDATE: According to Business North Carolina’s June 19th Daily Digest, Malik and NCFC will unveil the location and additional details about the $1.9 billion dollar complex in a press conference Tuesday, June 25, 2019. Can’t wait!!