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The Carolina Hurricanes’ relentless run to the 2026 Stanley Cup proved to be a huge economic boon for Wake County.
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The total economic impact of the march to the Cup, including 10 home games at the Lenovo Center, was $48.1 million, it was announced Tuesday by the Hurricanes and the county’s destination marketing arm, Visit Raleigh.
The financial figures also include the massive championship celebration in downtown Raleigh that brought nearly 200,000 people to the area, plus the watch parties during the playoffs at Lenovo Center, Red Hat Amphitheater and Moore Square.
The economic breakdown:
– $23.1 million from the seven home games in the first three rounds of the playoffs against the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.
– $13.6 million from three games in the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights and the watch parties.
– $11.4 million from the downtown celebration and parade.
The watch party inside the Lenovo Center for Game 6 of the Cup Final, played in Las Vegas, was a sellout and thousands more gathered in the plaza outside the arena as the Canes clinched the Cup.
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The crowd for the downtown celebration on June 20 was estimated at 192,000 and that figure could have been higher.
“It was an amazing spring and summer to see the way that our state galvanized in support of our team,” Hurricanes CEO Brian Fork said in a statement. “From the first tailgate in April through the parade in June, the greater Raleigh community was featured on an international scene like never before. We are grateful for the governmental and corporate partners and all of the fans who helped to make it such a memorable experience for our team.”
The playoff games, watch parties and the parade brought an estimated 439,000 to the area, generating an estimated 30,539 room-nights in Wake County It generated $1.18 million in local tax revenue.
The Canes swept both the Senators and Flyers in four games, playing two games at home in each series. They played three games at Lenovo against both the Flyers and Knights.
“The Canes’ historic playoff run, which included 10 home games and the many ancillary events that went along with it, generated a massive economic impact for Raleigh and the region,” Scott Dupree, executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, said in a statement. “It was an unforgettable two-month stretch that not only provided a huge boost for local businesses, but also electrified the market and brought Caniacs together from Apex to Zebulon and everywhere in between. It culminated with a championship celebration in downtown Raleigh that was the largest one-day gathering of people in the city’s history.”
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