As fans gathered outside of Carter-Finley Stadium on Thursday for the NC State Wolfpack’s season opener against the East Carolina Pirates, many gathered for tailgating as they looked ahead to what the school has planned to improve the gameday experience.
Following the 2025 season, the Carolina Hurricanes, who play across the street from the Wolfpack at the Lenovo Center, will begin construction on two, three-story parking structures that will overlook a new tailgate area.
The Hurricanes released renderings of the area in September 2024.
Boo Corrigan, NC State athletic director, said the parking situation is “the single biggest issue” people are worried about when coming to see the Wolfpack or the Hurricanes.
“We have the best and worst problem in college sports. We have unbelievable parking, ” said Boo Corrigan, NC State Athletic Director. “Anything that changes is going to change that.”
Man fans at the stadium on Thursday had mixed feelings about the upcoming changes. Some welcomed the development, but are eager to learn about what tailgating will look like in the future.
“I hope they can keep ease of access,” said Rob Black, an NC State fan. “It’s hard to tailgate out of a parking deck. I’ve cracked on Chapel Hill about that for years, and now we’re about to join them.”
Carter-Finley Stadium also saw changes in the offseason, as the school upgraded the “Raleighwood” area near Gate 11 of the stadium. The area now features big-screen TVs, a bar and a shaded area to give the section a more sports bar feel. It will also have live music and food trucks.