RALEIGH – The partners behind the massive $1.9 billion Downtown South project that includes a 20,000 seat soccer stadium, will step up their efforts to win government and public support on Friday when they unveil a study from the Urban Land Institute.

Real estate developer John Kane tells WRAL TechWire the project will be unveiled at the Southeast Raleigh YMCA at a meeting open to the public. It is set to begin at 9 a.m.

Downtown South (rendering by Gensler)

Downtown South (rendering by Gensler) of a proposed sports/entertainment multi-use complex for Raleigh

Kane, entrepreneur and sports team owner Steve Malik along with real estate executive Billie Redmond, founder of Trademark Properties, are the driving forces behind the project.

The three are pushing ahead even though the City of Raleigh and Wake County Commissioners voted this week to conduct feasibility studies before committing funds from entertainment taxes to support the project. Kane has said and reiterated in the interview with TechWire that the $13 million a year for 30 years the group has requested remains a “no go” factor. No funds, no project.

“I do feel good about it,” Kane said about the funding issue. He said he believes that the City and County moves are in fact “a first step.”

“We’ve got to have [interlocal] funds to build the stadium,” Kane declared at the project’s announcement. “And the stadium is the stimulus for this whole project to work.”

Kane also said he has talked with investors who are interested in backing the project and that progress so far is in line with plans to break ground in 2020 if agreements are made on funding.

Kane, Malik make case for stadium as stimulus to development south of downtown Raleigh

To help ease public concerns about the project ranging from its impact on residential areas near the complex to how best design it, Kane said he and his partners contracted with the Urban Land Institute. The ULI, which has a Triangle chapter with some 600 members, says its mission is to “provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.”

Kane said he and his partners want to continue to “engage” the community. And the ULI is offering advice.

“They have had a team of eight professionals here with us all week” studying the plans for the complex and the Raleigh metro area,” Kane said. The project bakers are looking for the best way to communicate with the public, discuss concerns, and options.


Noting that the ULI had assisted with planning for such projects as the Dorthea Dix property in Raleigh as well as RDU International Airport, Kane said the group “helps deal with complex issues. They have deep expertise in many areas. They are a very interesting group of people.”

Among points being discussed are transportation and connectivity, he added. “They have been very helpful.”

From public disclosure of the project plan, Kane and his partners have sought to secure public support.

Economic Impact for Wake County of Downtown South proposal

Economic Impact for Wake County of Downtown South proposal

They have conducted a poll that they say shows approval. And they have cited economic impact study that shows a complex over time delivering billions of dollars in economic benefits.

Downtown South is a huge project featuring;

  • A downtown entertainment and sports center (the 20,000-seat stadium to be home to Malik’s North Carolina FC and NC Courage)
  • 1.6 million square feet of office space
  • 125,000 square feet of retail space
  • 1,200 hotel rooms and
  • 1,750 residential units

How big is Downtown South at $1.9B? 10 PNC Arenas, 20 RBC towers, even more than most pro stadiums