A recent episode of CBRE’s podcast, The Weekly Take, captured something Wake County Economic Development knows well: growth here is intentional, collaborative, and accelerating.

Featuring Brian Fork, CEO of the Carolina Hurricanes, and Adrienne Cole, President & CEO of the Greater Raleigh Chamber, the conversation spotlighted more than a world-class hockey team. It highlighted a region that is aligning sports, real estate, infrastructure, and talent into a coordinated economic development strategy.

The Lenovo Center: More Than an Arena

At the center of the conversation was the Lenovo Center — home to the Hurricanes and a critical regional asset hosting approximately 160 events per year. But the story goes far beyond hockey.

The arena sits on 80 acres owned by the State of North Carolina under a long-term public structure involving the Centennial Authority, NC State University, the City of Raleigh, and Wake County. That public-private framework has enabled a 15-year, $1 billion mixed-use redevelopment plan that transforms the site into a true year-round destination.

A Region Built on Talent

While the Hurricanes provide energy and brand power, the long-term economic story is driven by talent.

The Raleigh-Durham region benefits from three Tier 1 research universities within 20 minutes of one another. Together with colleges, universities and a robust community college system, the region supports approximately 178,000 students at four-year institutions and tens of thousands more in workforce programs.

Importantly, more graduates are staying. Ten to fifteen years ago, many left for New York, Chicago, Boston, or the Bay Area. Today, strong job growth across life sciences, technology, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and professional services is retaining — and attracting back — top talent.

This retention trend is one of the most powerful economic indicators in the region.

Infrastructure as Strategy

Both Fork and Cole emphasized a shared priority: infrastructure must lead growth, not chase it.

That includes:

• Transportation improvements and expanded ingress/egress around the arena
• Regional mobility coordination
• Investment in bus rapid transit systems
• Long-term water, sewer, energy, and open space planning

Large-scale redevelopment around the Lenovo Center will only succeed if residents, workers, and visitors can access it seamlessly — whether it’s game night or a Tuesday afternoon. Economic development today requires systems thinking.

Multi-Node, Multi-Choice, Multi-Sector

One defining characteristic of the Raleigh-Durham region is its distributed employment model.

Instead of one dominant central business district, the region thrives through multiple employment nodes. This structure provides companies flexibility and offers residents choice — from downtown high-rise living to suburban neighborhoods to rural settings — all within a unified Wake County Public School system serving more than 160,000 students.

From a business recruitment perspective, this “regional first” mindset is key. When site selectors call asking about “Raleigh,” the answer is collaborative. The region competes together, not internally.

It’s a team sport — much like hockey.

The Discipline Behind the Momentum

Perhaps the most important takeaway from the episode wasn’t the billion-dollar development or the population growth numbers.

It was this: collaboration here is intentional. City, county, state, university, nonprofit, and private-sector leaders are aligned around shared outcomes. There are few sharp elbows. The goal is regional wins.

But success brings risk — complacency chief among them. As Cole emphasized, continued investment in infrastructure, planning, and quality of life will determine whether today’s growth becomes long-term prosperity.