North Carolina could soon see more large-scale, non-sporting events thanks to a new push to bring entertainment to Carter-Finley Stadium.
N.C. State athletics announced Wednesday it has partnered with Oak View Group—a global leader in venue development, management, and live event hospitality—to attract more concerts and special events to the stadium. While Carter-Finley is best known as the home of Wolfpack football, it has hosted major concerts in the past and will welcome Chris Brown on Oct. 14 during the team’s bye week. That show will mark the stadium’s first concert in nearly a decade, following past performances from Beyoncé (2016), The Rolling Stones (2015), Muse (2009), and U2 (2009).
The venue has also hosted high-profile sporting events, including an international soccer exhibition in 2011 and the NHL Stadium Series matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals in February 2023. Carter-Finley seats 56,919, while the nearby Lenovo Center—home to Hurricanes hockey, N.C. State men’s basketball, and other events—offers a more intimate 20,000-seat experience.
“Raleigh has established itself as a premier destination for live music,” said Oak View Group co-chairman Peter Luukko. “Partnering with N.C. State allows us to unlock the full potential of Carter-Finley Stadium and bring in major concerts and events that will enhance the university experience and energize the broader community.”
Oak View Group works with more than 400 venues worldwide, including Greensboro’s First Horizon Coliseum, the Durham Convention Center, Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium, Dallas’s Cotton Bowl, Florida State’s Tucker Civic Center, and Kentucky’s Rupp Arena.
For N.C. State, the move is part of a broader effort to generate new revenue as athletic programs nationwide face growing financial pressures from revenue sharing and sport-specific facility demands. The department aims to remain self-sufficient amid funding cuts and budget challenges.
“Oak View Group will give us a competitive edge in booking more events at Carter-Finley and opening new revenue streams,” said Deputy Athletic Director Todd Stansbury. “Their experience, resources, and industry connections will be invaluable as we expand opportunities.”
Athletic Director Boo Corrigan echoed that sentiment last week, noting that the department is also pursuing stadium naming rights, increased fundraising, and additional sponsorships.
“We want to be a good partner to the entire campus,” Corrigan said. “That’s why finding our own revenue sources and being responsible stewards of our resources is so important—we want to make sure we’re holding up our end of the bargain.”
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