A new exterior, grand lobby, team store and beer hall gathering space are among the potential projects for the final phases of Lenovo Center\u2019s $300-million renovation project.<\/p>\n
The Centennial Authority board on Thursday received a presentation on potential projects for the rest of the renovation, which is being financed with debt backed by public money from prepared food and beverage taxes and hotel occupancy taxes in Wake County and the City of Raleigh.<\/p>\n
Lenovo Center is home to the NHL\u2019s Carolina Hurricanes, NC State\u2019s men\u2019s basketball team and hundreds of other events annually, including music and comedy concerts and family events, such as Disney on Ice and monster truck rallies.<\/p>\n
The first phase of the renovation<\/a> at the Raleigh hockey, basketball and concert venue is nearly complete<\/a> with the opening of a view bar<\/a> and concourse changes on the third floor as well as bunker suites and a multipurpose room on the arena level. The view bar, which replaced some seats, has been a popular gathering place since it opened in mid-February.<\/p>\n This summer, the seats in the 100-level will be changed and some aisles removed to create more capacity<\/a>, which was announced in January. Lenovo Center will close for eight weeks in July and August.<\/p>\n The arena opened in 1999. It is located next to Carter-Finley Stadium, NC State\u2019s football stadium.<\/p>\n The Hurricanes and NC State outlined many expected changes for the final phases of the renovation: a new-look to the building\u2019s exterior and grand lobby areas that will be the primary entrances on the east and west sides of the arena; a beer hall and restaurant on the arena\u2019s south side that will be open everyday; an expanded team store on the southwest side of the building; a redone arena club; and renovated bathrooms and concourses on the first and second levels.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom improved operations to enhancements for our general fans and premium spaces, every aspect of this building has been thoughtfully designed to elevate the experience for Wolfpack fans,\u201d NC State athletics director Boo Corrigan said in a statement.<\/p>\n The Centennial Authority board must sign off on the projects \u2014 and stay on budget at a time of increasing construction costs. The Centennial Authority owns the building.<\/p>\n \u201cThese enhancements will help us continue to bring top entertainment and events to Raleigh,\u201d said Philip Isley, chairman of the Centennial Authority, in a statement.<\/p>\n In addition to the $300-million renovation project, the Hurricanes have plans to privately develop up to 80 acres around the arena<\/a>. That land is largely surface-level parking lots currently, and the Hurricanes have unveiled plans to build parking decks, a tailgate zone, a music venue as well as office and retail space in phase one of the development.<\/p>\n