The yap of a baseball bat, the thud of a soccer kick, the whiff of a tennis ball, and the natter of a crowd are commonplace at Cary’s varied sports venues. With many of its events featured on ESPN, CBS, and Paramount+, Cary is quickly earning the moniker of the amateur sports capital of North Carolina.
“For more than two decades, and from baseball and tennis to soccer and golf, our community has worked hard to become known as a premier sports tourism destination for athletes and fans, but also for Cary citizens whose lives are enriched by amazing experiences,” said Cary Town Manager Sean R. Stegall. “We’re excited to garner even more global attention with The Soccer Tournament being held this summer at WakeMed Soccer Park.”
- What was the original name of the WakeMed Soccer Park?
- How many college championships has Cary hosted?
- What is the total economic impact of Cary sports through 2022?
- How many people attended Cary’s sports venues through 2022?
Answers 1. WakeMed Soccer Park was originally State Capital Soccer Park 2. Cary has hosted 81 college championships (35 NCAA and 46 ACC) 3.Total economic impact through 2022 nearly $200 million 4. 7.2 million in attendance through 2022
Featuring an unprecedented million-dollar, winner-take-all prize, The Soccer Tournament (TST) has enticed competitive soccer players from around the world to participate in their highly intense format that follows the World Cup structure, pinning 32 teams against each other in group play before moving into the knockout stages. TST takes place at WakeMed Soccer Park June 1 through 4.
“We asked people for a list of the highest quality playing surfaces on the East Coast, and WakeMed Soccer Park consistently came up,” said Jon Mugar, TST’s CEO and founder. “Cary stood out in its ability to support our vision of making this a weekend festival of soccer.”
Application was open to any team able to pay the entry fee, which starts at $10,000. Current and former members of several professional leagues will compete, including Wolverhampton from the English Premier League, Necaxa from Liga MX, Major League Soccer’s Charlotte Football Club, and others. US Men’s National Team player Clint Dempsey heads his own team, and former US Women’s National Team star (and UNC alumna) Heather O’Reilly will lead the US Women team.
Though the roster is still in the works, the Wrexham Red Dragons team is set to feature several of the personalities seen on the first season of Welcome to Wrexham, a documentary series covering the Welsh team owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. David Jones will serve as the team’s coach. The roster also includes Paul Rutherford, Shaun Pearson, and Mark Carrington.
The Buzz
So how did Cary become the place to be when it comes to sports? Here’s a quick look at three of its sought-after facilities.
WakeMed Soccer Park
Built in 2002, this 158-acre park boasts eight fields with seating capacity of up to 10,000.
The North Carolina FC, NC Courage, NCAA Men’s College Cup, NCAA Women’s College Cup, ACC Women’s Soccer, ACC Men’s Soccer, and William Peace University’s Men’s & Women’s Lacrosse and Men’s & Women’s Soccer teams all call WakeMed Soccer Park home. Aside from soccer, thrills include disc golf, ultimate Frisbee, rugby, and polo with actual horses.
Cary Tennis Park
Cary Tennis Park
After a two-phase, two-year build completed in 2002, 36 courts now live at the Cary Tennis Park. The beauty generates over $1.8 million in revenue annually, which is unusually high for a public tennis complex. While not quite Wimbledon, audiences will still be invigorated attending the Atlantic Tire Championship Men’s Pro Tennis Tournament.
Tennis lovers can also lob their way to Cary Tennis Park to take in ACC Men’s & Women’s Tennis, or one of 45 youth and adult tournaments held annually at the local, state, and national levels.
USA Baseball National Training Complex
The USA Baseball National Training Complex, built in 2007 for $11 million at Thomas Brooks Park, features four fields. It hosts NCAA Division II Baseball and the College World Series Finals, plus 23 baseball tournaments and 100 college and high school baseball games annually.
Stop by sometime between June and August and you might catch some USA Baseball action. Considering all four fields were designed and are maintained to Major League Baseball standards, the organization uses the facility for trials, training, games, and hosting national tournaments.
On Deck
Cary will host portions of the 2029 World University Games, an Olympic-caliber competition for student athletes. It’s also a finalist for consideration as the new US Soccer Federation headquarters.
All in all, it’s a great time to be a sports fan in Cary.
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