What happens after the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup? There’s plenty of conversation around parties and parades, off-season roster moves, as well as betting odds on a possible repeat, but there is more to consider.  

What will a Stanley Cup Championship mean for the growth of the franchise, the stadium, and the surrounding area? 

Some investment is already underway. On Tuesday, Lenovo Center closed for another round of renovations. Construction will begin next week on more than $70 million in projects, including the replacement of all lower bowl seats and the addition of more seats in the lower bowl and the upper level.  

This is part of a much larger renovation. All of the projects are part of the larger $300-million enhancement to the arena. Some of the changes were completed during the season, including a view bar on the third level, improvements to the third-level concourse and suites and a multi-purpose events room on the arena level. 

More work at Lenovo Center is on the way, including a new exterior, a grand lobby, a team store and a beer hall. 

Another big project on the horizon is the team’s plan to redevelop up to 80 acres around the stadium. It is a $1-billion dollar project that includes two new parking structures, a tailgating zone, a 4,500-seat music venue, retail space, bars, restaurants, possibly even hotels and apartments. 

Will a Stanley Cup Championship push those projects along, bring in more investors, motivate lawmakers to approve public funding, or speed up the timeline for construction? 

Recent history shows that championships can move the needle on development and investment. 

Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors won the NBA Championship in June 2015. The team already had plans to move from Oakland to San Francisco, but it wasn’t until after they won the title that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to approve construction of the new stadium at Mission Bay. 

In 2016, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Championship. Six months later, the team announced plans for a $140-million dollar stadium renovation.  

In 2017, Kansas City announced its desire to expand their street car system. But it wasn’t until the fall of 2020 —  months after Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs won the Super Bowl — that $14-million dollars was committed to the project. 

In 2021, after Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA title, real estate investment boomed in the area around the stadium known as the “Deer District”. In April 2026, crews broke ground on a new development there that includes new apartments, retail and hotels. 

Championships can move the needle because people get excited. More people go to games, watch at bars and restaurants, and buy merch. When it comes to Raleigh and the Triangle area, there have never been more people to participate in these things. 

In 2006, the last time the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, the combined population of Raleigh and Durham was about 550,000 people. Today, Raleigh’s population alone is 499,000. 

Since 2006, Wake County has added 500,000 people to its population. 

These are the arguments for growing a franchise, growing investment, and growing development.  

It’s also the argument for starting a new franchise. People have been talking about bringing a Major League Baseball team to Raleigh for years. 

Tom Dundon, the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, has spearheaded an effort to bring MLB to the Triangle. 

“I think we’re gonna put ourselves in a really good place,” Dundon said after the ‘Canes Stanley Cup win, “If they decide to expand, we’ll have a compelling offer.”  

Another billionaire, Marc Lasry, has expressed interest too. Lasry, the co-founder and chief executive of Avenue Sports Fund, told WRAL in an exclusive interview that he wants to make a bet on Raleigh. 

“I want to be an investor in Raleigh, and I think what we’re doing with the Courage and, hopefully, what we can do with Major League Baseball, those opportunities are pretty big,” said Lasry, whose group made a large investment in the NC Courage this year. “It’s a market that’s going to continue to grow.”