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🔥 $1.2B Boost Crowns the Triangle as a Leading U.S. Sports Market
Published about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday!
Raleigh doesn’t slow down, and this week’s news will prove it.
The Triangle is turning into one of the country’s hottest sports scenes with billion-dollar venues and youth tournaments filling hotels almost nonstop.
Over in Durham, a long-forgotten district is getting a 44 million dollar rebirth that could completely shift the future of Hayti.
And here in Raleigh, the market’s finally taking a breath before a steady climb into 2026, giving buyers and sellers a little more room to move.
Let’s dive in! ⬇️
—Brette Davis
🎉 The Best Things to Do This Weekend in The Triangle!
Why the Triangle Is One of America’s Hottest Sports Markets
📌 Driving the news: North Carolina’s Research Triangle is quietly becoming one of the strongest sports business markets in the country, driven by billion-dollar infrastructure investments, a surge in youth sports tourism, and soaring hotel revenue.
📌 Details:
Since 2016, $647M has been spent on sports venues, with 85% focused on college and youth facilities.
The Lenovo Center's $1.2Bredevelopment, anchored by a 350-key hotel, retail, and a Live Nation-operated venue, is under construction and funded largely by hospitality taxes.
The Raleigh Convention Center is expanding to 800,000 sq. ft., supported by a $397.6M hotel tax fund.
Youth sports like the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series and national tournaments generate 188,000+ hotel room nights annually.
Hotel occupancy tax revenue hit $41M in 2024, up 108% from 2014.
📌 Why it matters: The Triangle’s success is rooted in youth and college sports, not major leagues. This shift has made the region a year-round tourism engine, boosting local hotels, restaurants, and tax revenue.
Towns like Cary, long overlooked, are now key players, hosting national tournaments and building a reputation as sports tourism hubs.
📌 The big picture: The Triangle's sports economy is no longer just about college basketball or Bull Durham nostalgia.
Strategic public-private partnerships, steady hotel growth (21,607 rooms), and consistent investment in multi-use and youth-focused facilities are reshaping the region's national image.
📌 What’s next: With the FISU World University Games coming in 2029 and continued upgrades to venues like Carter-Finley Stadium and UNC’s Carolina North, the Triangle is poised for even greater global visibility.
📌 The bottom line: The Triangle is leading a new model for mid-size city sports economies, where youth tournaments and smart planning score bigger wins than pro franchises.
Durham Greenlights $44M Transformation in A Forgotten District
📌 Driving the news: A $44 million investment just cleared the final hurdle to reshape 20 acres of Durham’s Hayti district into a modern, mixed-use hub with more than 250 new residences and retail space.
📌 Details: The Durham City Council gave the go-ahead for Phase 1 of the project, known as Fayette Place, which is expected to break ground in 2026 and finish in 2027.
The development will rise on land long marked by vacancy and crime, along Merrick Street near downtown.
📌 Why it matters: This is a strategic restoration of a culturally rich neighborhood, positioned to bring long-term value to Durham's urban fabric. Anchored in heritage and surrounded by growing demand, the Hayti reinvestment signals rising momentum for smart, inclusive growth.
For investors, business owners, and homeowners alike, this means stronger market stability and rising property interest in the core of the city.
📌 The big picture: Hayti was once the financial and cultural heartbeat of Black Durham—dubbed “Black Wall Street”—until highways and industrial expansion divided and diminished the area.
This new development seeks to reconnect and reenergize the district with thoughtfully designed spaces that mix homes with commerce.
📌 What’s next: The city, developers, and housing authorities will now move into design and permitting.
Construction is on track to begin next year, with leasing expected to open by late 2027.
What Raleigh Homeowners Need to Know Heading Into 2026
📌 Driving the news: Raleigh's real estate market is cooling slightly heading into 2025, but Zillow forecasts a turnaround by late 2026, signaling a shift from the red-hot seller’s market of recent years to a more balanced playing field.
📌 Details:
Current home values: Median listing price holds at $475,000 as of September 2025, flat from the previous month.
Short-term dip expected: Zillow projects a -0.1% decline in October 2025 and -0.3% in December 2025.
Recovery on the horizon: A modest 1.4% growth in home values forecast by September 2026.
Inventory trends: Listings rose 3.2% from August and are up 36.8% year-over-year.
Time on market: Homes now average 58 days on the market — still quicker than the national 62-day average.
📌 Why it matters: For buyers, Raleigh’s cooling market offers a rare breather: more listings, longer decision time, and less pressure.
For sellers, realistic pricing and patience will be key. The gradual rebound forecasted in 2026 suggests that Raleigh remains a strong long-term bet in North Carolina.
📌 The big picture: Compared to other NC cities, Raleigh's rebound is a bit slower.
Cities like Fayetteville (+3.8%), Hickory (+3.2%), and Wilmington (+3.1%) are projected to see sharper growth by late 2026.
Even Charlotte and Durham are expected to bounce back faster. Asheville and Raleigh show the most conservative growth curves statewide.
📌 Between the lines: Raleigh’s small dips in 2025 aren’t a crash, they’re a market correction.
As mortgage rates stay elevated and inventory grows, sellers are adjusting to a more price-sensitive buyer pool.
📌 What’s next: Expect a slow but steady uptick through 2026, especially if mortgage rates ease as predicted.
NAR economists forecast a 4% rise in home prices nationally in 2026 and increased home sales across the board.
📌 The bottom line: Raleigh’s housing market is stabilizing, not shrinking. With a healthier balance of supply and demand, the city is on track for modest growth (great news for long-term buyers and sellers who play the timing right).
I’m a Raleigh-based agent who’s passionate about real estate, local life, and making homeownership feel easy (and fun!). Subscribe and join 2,000+ readers who get the inside scoop every week!
