Overview

The Town developed plans for stadium improvements at WakeMed Soccer Park that includee 3,000 additional seats and new team facilities for the WakeMed Stadium. The purpose of these improvements was to provide the scale of facilities needed to continue hosting both regional and national soccer tournaments. The recommendation to complete these projects was a result of the process to complete an update of the draft master plan for WakeMed Soccer Park.

Proposed Improvements
The scope of the improvement project included the following:

• New team facilities located on the east side of the stadium. At this location, the locker rooms are placed underneath the stands at approximately midfield to the stadium soccer field.
• The locker rooms include home, visitor and referee locker rooms as well as laundry area and storage.
• The new location provides direct access for the players to the stadium at midfield through an opening through the existing seating and also provides direct access for players from team buses to the locker rooms.
• A multi-purpose room located above the locker rooms at a new second level platform. The multi-purpose room has a capacity for 100 and can be subdivided into four potential suites overlooking the stadium field.
• On the east side of the stadium, above the multi-purpose room, are restrooms and concessions with access to 1,500 new seats.
• An additional 1,500 new seats added in the north end of the stadium.

Schedule

Design: Complete
Construction: Complete
See photos of construction.

Budget

Construction Budget is $6.3 million

Background

The Town of Cary was selected as one of six cities across the U.S. in September 2008 as an inaugural member of the NCAA's Championship City Pilot Program. (The other five cities selected for the program are Cleveland, Indianapolis, St. Louis, San Diego and San Antonio.) The Championship City program features multiple host opportunities of NCAA Division I, II and III men’s and women’s championships. The centerpiece of the Championship City program is a long-term agreement between the NCAA and each host city to bring a wide array of championships and ancillary events to the six geographical areas over the course of several years. A critical component of the Town’s involvement in the NCAA Championship City program is retaining the College Cup Soccer Championships. Since 2005, the estimated economic impact on the region from hosting these events is approximately $12 million. In an effort to continue being a host city, the Town recently submitted a bid for the NCAA College Cup for 2011, 2012 & 2013.

Links

Phase 1 Rendering
Ground Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
East Stands Section
WakeMed Soccer Park Draft Master Plan
WakeMed Soccer Park Draft Master Plan Graphic

Contact

Kristen Dwiggins, PE
Transportation Engineering Supervisor
Town of Cary Engineering Department
919-462-3930
kristen.dwiggins@townofcary.org