Note: The accompanying video shows previous coverage of the Lenovo naming rights deal announcement from Sept. 12.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Leadership for the Carolina Hurricanes and North Carolina State University will unveil signage for the newly-named Lenovo Center on Thursday.
The Centennial Authority, the governing body for the arena, plans to welcome state officials as well as Lenovo executives and employees for a celebration ceremony that will reveal a sign that showcases the venue’s new name.
Among those slated to attend are North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Centennial Authority Chairman Philip Isley and Ryan McCurdy, the senior vice-president and president of Lenovo North America.
Other notable figures expected to be at the ceremony include Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, head coach Rod Brind’Amour and N.C. State athletics director Boo Corrigan.
This event comes exactly one week after the Centennial Authority officially approved the $60 million, 10-year naming rights deal, running through the 2033-34 season. The facility, which opened its doors in 1999, had been known as PNC Arena for nearly 12 years.
“Lenovo has been a valued partner of ours for many years,” Brian Fork, chief executive officer of Hurricanes Holdings, LLC, said when the announcement was made last week. “We’re thrilled to elevate that partnership now by renaming the arena Lenovo Center. Lenovo has both strong local ties and a worldwide footprint, and we’re proud to have the Hurricanes’ name associated with a true leader in global technology. As we transition to this new era, we are grateful for our longtime naming rights collaborator, PNC, who will continue to be a major partner of our organization.”
The Centennial Authority unanimously agreed to the name, while N.C. State officials also voted in favor of the change.
“This is an exciting day for Raleigh, Wake County and the whole state of North Carolina,” Isley said last week. “This partnership is about more than just renaming the arena. Lenovo will play a vital role integrating technology into our upcoming arena renovations and enhancements. Lenovo has deep roots in North Carolina, and we’re thrilled that they are strengthening those roots with this naming rights agreement.”
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Newly unveiled renderings of the Raleigh Sports & Entertainment District, the new $1 billion mixed-use development surrounding the arena that serves as the home to the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State basketball. (Courtesy: Carolina Hurricanes) -
Newly unveiled renderings of the Raleigh Sports & Entertainment District, the new $1 billion mixed-use development surrounding the arena that serves as the home to the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State basketball. (Courtesy: Carolina Hurricanes) -
Newly unveiled renderings of the Raleigh Sports & Entertainment District, the new $1 billion mixed-use development surrounding the arena that serves as the home to the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State basketball. (Courtesy: Carolina Hurricanes)
In addition to the rights deal, tons of major renovations are on the horizon surrounding the Lenovo Center, such as a $1 billion mixed-use development plan for the Raleigh Sports and Entertainment District, scheduled to start building in December 2025. The 80-acre site will “provide new opportunities for shopping, dining and entertainment” all year long for sports fans and concertgoers, along with expanded parking and tailgating space, according to a news release.
Concept renderings illustrate the ambitious designs for transforming the area around the Lenovo Center and Carter-Finley Stadium. Project leaders said the first phase of the development will include the following:
- The construction of a 150-room hotel and more than 500 apartments
- A 4,300-seat music venue operated by Live Nation
- Over 200,000 square feet of entertainment and lifestyle retail, as well as 150,000 square feet of office space
Dallas-based Pacific Elm Properties and Gale Force Sports and Entertainment, the Hurricanes’ parent company, are tasked with developing the entertainment district. The expected timeline for the project is estimated to be 15 years.
“This development is the next step toward building the premier sports and entertainment district in the country and keeping the area a regional economic driver for decades to come,” Fork said in a previous statement about the development plans.
Project organizers also described the new space as “blending time-honored traditions with state-of-the-art innovation” for thousands of fans to gather.