PNC Arena upgrade plan would ‘energize’ facility
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PNC Arena & West Raleigh Development Plans
Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has a vision for both inside and outside PNC Arena that could entice fans to come early for games and stay after they’re over. Here is The News & Observer’s coverage of arena renovations and development plans for west Raleigh.
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PNC Arena is working on getting a new look.
You might even be able to chill out in a rooftop bar in the Raleigh arena if the plans go through in the next two to three years.
Architects from Ratio and HOK met with the Centennial Authority on Tuesday to discuss a multimillion dollar renovation to the 16-year old multipurpose arena, authority chairman Tom McCormick said.
The goal of the project, which is still in its early stages, is to upgrade the entrances and to “energize” the arena area, McCormick said.
“We want to open up the arena and make it a more useful experience for fans,” McCormick said.
The arena, which is the home of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and N.C. State’s basketball team, opened in 1999 with a $158 million price tag.
There have been other upgrades, namely to the scoreboard and the 66 luxury suites, but this would be the biggest project to date. McCormick said it was too early to put an exact price tag on the project.
The plans from Ratio and HOK are the first step and the Centennial Authority will meet on Dec. 3 to make a decision about the plans and, if approved, will then begin to pursue cost estimates, McCormick said.
How to pay for the project will also have to be determined, McCormick said.
Among the main changes will be upgraded entrances on all four sides of the arena and the addition of a rooftop bar and restaurant at the main entrance on the South end that’s closest to Carter-Finley Stadium.
The PNC staff and Hurricanes staff offices are currently above the South entrance. They would be moved to the back side of the building, where the loading dock is now, freeing up the space for a triple level restaurant and bar area.
The entrances on the East and West sides would also be upgraded and include covered tailgating stations, which could also be used during football season.
McCormick said the seating capacity for hockey (18,680) and basketball (19,722) would not be changed by the project.
Giglio: 919-829-8938, @jwgiglio
This story was originally published October 27, 2015 at 4:00 PM.
