Cary leaders want to redevelop the aging Cary Towne Center and say a proposed $193 million indoor sports facility might be just the ticket.
To help finance the project, Cary has asked for about $35 million from the Wake County tourism tax, which is collected from hotels, restaurants and bars around the county and dedicated to projects that promote tourism. Cary projects the sports complex to attract 161,400 overnight visitors by the fifth year of operation.
It would house 12 basketball courts and is designed so that half of the court space could be converted to an arena with a 4,000-seat capacity, according to planning documents.
The Wake County Board of Commissioners heard a presentation of the project Monday and the Raleigh City Council hears a presentation this afternoon. Both boards must approve any spending from the tourism tax and plan to consider the Cary sports complex at upcoming meetings.
"I just want to say how perfect I think this location is," said Wake Commissioner Susan Evans. "Not only does it help revitalize the Cary Town Center that very much needs some new life, but this is such an accessible location."
The entrance to the sports complex would face the intersection of southeast Maynard Road and Walnut Street. In 2017, Swedish furniture giant Ikea announce plans to open a store in Cary Towne Center, but canceled those plans one year later.