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Good afternoon, Raleigh. What did the ocean say to the beach? 🏖️

Nothing, it just waved. 🌊

In today’s Raleigh Rundown:

• 6 fun things to do in Raleigh this weekend

• Changes coming to the Lenovo Center

• Dix Park will start offering food

• Big investment coming to RTP

Let’s get to it. 🏃

STORIES THIS WEEK

Lenovo Center to get revamp this off-season 🏒

The Lenovo Center in Raleigh is undergoing a major transformation ahead of the next NHL season, introducing new premium experiences for fans. A key addition will be five to seven bunker suites at ice level, providing exclusive seating and access to a premium club with high-end food and drink options. Another highlight is the Lenovo Legend Club, a luxury space replacing storage areas to offer enhanced amenities.

Changes extend to the 300 level, where three sections will be removed to create a "view bar," a sports bar-style space with a direct view of the ice. Beyond the arena, a long-term $800 million investment will fund new development, including parking decks and surrounding infrastructure, with the goal of making the venue a year-round community hub.

Dix Park getting new food market 🥙

Dorothea Dix Park is set to open its first food and drink market, marking a major step in transforming the park into a key destination for Raleigh. This initiative aligns with the $69 million Gipson Play Plaza, which is expected to open this spring and attract thousands of new visitors.

The market, located in the renovated House of Many Porches, will offer a variety of food, drinks, and retail items from North Carolina-based vendors. It will be operated by John and Mike Cline of Raleigh Park Ventures, who have prior experience managing similar markets in local parks. Dix Park leaders see this addition as a milestone in making the park a vibrant, year-round gathering place for the community.

Big money to be spent on RTP

A new bill introduced in the North Carolina Senate would allocate $30 million in state funds to upgrade aging sewer infrastructure in Research Triangle Park (RTP) to support its ongoing urbanization efforts. Sponsored by Durham County senators Natalie Murdock and Sophia Chitlik, the bill aims to prevent rising utility costs for existing businesses while preparing for increased development in the area.

RTP, home to major corporations like IBM, Fidelity, and Cisco, has seen $5 billion in new investments since 2022 and contributes over $21 billion annually to the state's GDP. The Research Triangle Foundation and economic developers see these infrastructure upgrades as essential to attracting more businesses and supporting RTP's transformation into a more walkable, mixed-use environment. If approved, the funding would help ensure the park can expand without placing a financial burden on current tenants.

Raleigh names new police chief 👮‍♂️

Rico Boyce, a 25-year veteran of the Raleigh Police Department, has been appointed as the city's new police chief, replacing Estella Patterson on March 1. Boyce has risen through the ranks, starting as a patrol officer and school resource officer before becoming deputy chief, and has played a key role in community initiatives like Cops on Blocks. His appointment follows a nationwide search, with city officials emphasizing the trust he has earned within both the department and the community.

Boyce takes over at a time when the department is working to fill 51 vacant positions, a significant improvement from previous years but still short of what officials believe is needed to support Raleigh’s growing population. Despite staffing challenges, Boyce steps into leadership as violent crime in the city has been declining, with homicides dropping nearly 45% since their peak in 2022.

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND

RETRO PIC OF THE WEEK

Barnum and Bailey Circus animals walking down West Cabarrus Street on their way to the fairgrounds. February 1965.

WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday

59 🌡️ 44 | 🌤️ | 0%

Saturday

73 🌡️ 38 | 🌤️ | 0%

Sunday

57 🌡️ 36 | 🌦️ | 40%

LOCAL SPORTS

Hockey 🏒

• Thursday: Carolina Hurricanes VS Boston Bruins | 7 PM

• Sunday: Carolina Hurricanes VS Winnipeg Jets | 5 PM

Men’s College Basketball 🏀

• Saturday: NC State @ Miami | 12 PM

• Saturday: Duke @ UNC | 6:30 PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the Raleigh Rundown today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who likes to wear shoes. 👟

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Let’s do this again next Thursday!