Hurricanes Stanley Cup run brought $13.4 million boost to Wake County
The Hurricanes’ playoff run generated $13.4 million in Wake County, with more than 112,000 visitors filling hotels, watch parties and downtown Raleigh.
The Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup run generated $13.4 million in total economic impact in Wake County, along with $255,024 in tax revenue and more than 6,700 hotel room-nights, as sold-out games and watch parties pulled more than 112,000 people into Raleigh.
Visit Raleigh counted the tally from three sold-out Stanley Cup Final home games at Lenovo Center and three watch parties, with visitors coming from all 50 states and two countries. The spending landed in hotels, restaurants and retail businesses.
The Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 on June 14, 2026, to capture the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 20 years. The run ended with a downtown championship celebration that the Downtown Raleigh Alliance later estimated drew 192,922 people, far above its earlier turnout estimate of about 150,000.
Scott Dupree of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance called the influx “new money coming into the market” and said the economic payoff would have been larger if Raleigh had hosted a Game 7. Brian Fork, the Hurricanes’ chief executive, said fans, partners and government leaders showed the strength of the market.
The Milken Institute ranked Raleigh the best-performing large metropolitan area in its 2025 Best-Performing Cities report, and the City of Raleigh marked the title with a proclamation naming June 20, 2026, Carolina Hurricanes Day and a downtown parade.
Visit Raleigh counted the Hurricanes’ 2023 NHL Stadium Series at $13.6 million in total economic impact.
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