Just days after nearly 200,000 Caniacs packed downtown Raleigh to celebrate the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, the celebration continues, this time over the economic impact of the team’s first championship in 20 years.
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The Hurricanes’ three Stanley Cup Final home games, which sold out, and three watch parties brought in $13.4 million in total economic impact for Wake County, the Carolina Hurricanes, Visit Raleigh and the National Hockey League announced in a news release Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance released a new crowd estimate for Saturday’s parade, saying 192,922 fans gathered along Fayetteville Street to celebrate. Saturday, the city estimated the crowd size at 150,000 people, which increased to 180,000 on Monday.
“For one unforgettable day, our streets became a sea of red and black as fans, families, visitors, and local businesses came together to celebrate the Carolina Hurricanes bringing home the Stanley Cup,” the alliance said on Instagram. “Moments like these reflect what we know to be true: Downtown Raleigh is the heart of our state and the gathering place for celebration, connection, and shared experiences.”
Downtown businesses reported significant numbers of visitors from outside Raleigh during the parade.
Greg Hatem, founder and managing partner of Empire Properties, which owns several properties along Fayetteville Street, said staff at downtown “watering hole” Landmark Tavern estimated about 90% of customers were people they did not recognize.
Empire Properties houses several downtown restaurants and cafes, including The Morning Times and Mecca. Across six of their downtown locations, Hatem said, they recorded 4,913 guests, nearly double the customers during last year’s pride parade and Christmas parade.
“It was the best day ever in the last 30 years of being downtown,” he said.
At A Place at the Table, a pay-what-you-can cafe downtown, customers in Canes jerseys were lined up at 8 a.m., according to founder and executive director Maggie Kane. The parade brought the highest sales and customer turnout since the cafe opened eight and a half years ago, along with more than $1,000 in pay-it-forward donations.
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Kane said the day reflected the cafe’s mission of bringing people together, regardless of their ability to pay.
“It’s really fun to all come together around a momentous occasion like the Canes. … It’s not just for paying customers; it’s for everyone,” she said.
The economic impact release reported that more than 112,000 people attended the games and watch parties, generating about $255,000 in tax revenue and more than 6,700 hotel room nights. The games drew fans from across the country, including all 50 states and two countries, according to the release.
Scott Dupree, executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, called the Stanley Cup final one of the “most unforgettable events” in Raleigh’s history and “a massive economic engine” that will have lasting impacts for Raleigh and Wake County.
Visit Raleigh stated that the $13.4 million estimate includes direct spending by visitors as well as the indirect and induced effects of that spending through the local economy. It excludes spending by Wake County residents and focuses on new money entering the county, and it may also include some visitors who would have come to Raleigh regardless of the event.
By comparison, the 2019 World of Bluegrass festival generated an estimated $18.65 million in direct economic impact in Wake County, according to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh), The News & Observer reported in 2020.
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This story was originally published June 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM.