Overview
The Town is developing plans for stadium improvements at WakeMed Soccer Park that will include 3,000 additional seats and new team facilities for the WakeMed Stadium. The purpose of these improvements is 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 includes the following:

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

Schedule
Design: Complete
Construction: Begins November 2011; Ends Fall 2012

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. 

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