Carter-Finley hosting first concert since 2016. NC State hopes to add more
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- Carter-Finley Stadium to host its first concert since 2016 on October 14.
- N.C. State partners with Oak View Group to expand non-sporting events.
- Athletics aims to boost revenue amid funding cuts through venue utilization.
More non-sporting events could be coming to North Carolina due to an expanded effort to book entertainment at Carter-Finley Stadium.
N.C. State athletics announced on Wednesday it partnered with Oak View Group, a company focused on venue development, management and hospitality services for live events, in hopes of booking more concerts at the venue. It primarily hosts Wolfpack home football games but has been the site for concerts in the past and is scheduled to host a Chris Brown concert on Oct. 14, during the football team’s bye week. It is the first concert at the stadium in nearly a decade.
Carter-Finley Stadium previously served as the venue for concerts featuring Beyonce (2016), The Rolling Stones (2015) and, in 2009, a show with Muse and U2.
Other past events include an international soccer exhibition on July 28, 2011, and an NHL Stadium Series match between the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals on February 18, 2023.
Carter-Finley’s capacity is listed at 56,919. Nearby Lenovo Center, which is home to the Carolina Hurricanes, N.C. State men’s basketball and venue to other entertainment events, boasts a 20,000 seat capacity, giving events a more intimate feel.
“Raleigh has established itself as a premier destination for live music and we’re excited to partner with N.C. State to unlock the full potential of Carter-Finley Stadium,” Oak View Group co-chairman Peter Luukko said in a statement. “Together, we’re well-positioned to attract major concerts and events that will enhance the university experience and create new energy for the broader community.”
Oak View Group works with 400 venues across the world, including First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, the Durham Convention Center, Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium, Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Florida State’s Tucker Civic Center and Kentucky’s Rupp Arena.
N.C. State’s efforts come at a time when programs across the nation must find additional sources of revenue to maintain a competitive advantage with revenue sharing and sport-specific amenities. The athletic department also wants to be self-sufficient during a time when the school faces funding cuts and budget challenges.
“Oak View Group will give us a competitive edge when it comes to bringing more events to Carter-Finley and finding new revenue streams,” Deputy Athletic Director Todd Stansbury said in a statement. “Their experienced team has extensive resources, contacts and knowledge of our industry and we look forward to working with them as we grow additional opportunities.”
N.C. State Athletic Director Boo Corrigan shared a similar message when he spoke last week about the department’s efforts to increase outside revenue. The department continues its naming rights initiative for Carter-Finley Stadium, additional fundraising efforts and other sponsorships.
“We’re in those meetings, bleeding with, feeling for the other people on campus,” Corrigan said. “We want to be a good campus partner every way we can be. That’s why the importance of everything we can do to find our own revenue, everything we can do to be a good steward of our resources and make sure that we’re holding up our end of the bargain.”
This story was originally published August 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM.
