Raleigh Convention Center cancels or postpones events to help stop coronavirus spread
All large events at city of Raleigh venues through April 15 are being canceled or postponed to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
That includes large conventions at the Raleigh Convention Center and shows at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The latter houses Memorial Auditorium, Fletcher Opera Theater and Meymandi Concert Hall.
“The safety and security of our community and organization is our top priority,” said City Manager Ruffin Hall. “That statement couldn’t be more true than today.”
“We continue to monitor this evolving situation closely,” he continued. “As we approach April 15, we will determine what, if any, next steps might be necessary.”
Some of the events canceled or postponed are the Playthrough Gaming Convention, Oak City Comic-Con, Raleigh Convention Center Boat Show and the Starpower National Talent Competition.
The closing comes a day after N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper encouraged all gatherings that draw more than 100 people be canceled throughout the state to stop the spread of the disease. The state has more than a dozen confirmed cases with most of them within Wake County.
J. Cole’s Dreamville music festival, held at the city-owned Dorothea Dix park, announced earlier Friday it would be postponed until Aug. 29, 2020.
Wake County declared a state of emergency — joining Orange County — on Friday.
“Although the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus remains low in Wake County, I signed a State of Emergency declaration today as a proactive move to ensure we have the flexibility we need to respond to this ever-changing situation in the days and weeks ahead,” said Wake County Commissioner Chair Greg Ford. “This is largely an administrative action and should not heighten fears or fuel panic among our residents.”
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This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 4:25 PM.
