Wilmington Arena Project plans playoff watch party and festival at Riverfront Park
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Arena Project plans to host a Carolina Hurricanes playoff watch party and festival in downtown Wilmington as part of its effort to advance plans for a potential multi-purpose arena.
The event is scheduled for April 25 at Riverfront Park and will begin at 4 p.m., continuing into the evening. Organizers said the gathering will feature a large viewing screen for the playoff game, along with live music, games, raffles and food and beverage options.
The project said results from a market analysis will be presented during the event. The analysis was conducted by Venue Strategies as the first phase of an independent feasibility study examining the potential development of an arena in Wilmington.
Organizers said the feasibility study is intended to evaluate the project’s viability and help determine whether development efforts move forward. Additional portions of the study are expected to focus on financial projections and economic impact considerations.
According to the project, fundraising is underway to support the remaining components of the study. Officials said the analysis could help secure future institutional and endowment capital, as well as potential pre-sale naming rights and advertising opportunities if the arena is built.
The event is open to the public, and organizers said they are seeking sponsorships and raffle prize donations from local businesses.
The Carolina Hurricanes are expected to play on April 25, though the National Hockey League has not yet released its official playoff schedule. The Riverfront Park venue has also been reserved for April 26 in case the game is played that day.
The Wilmington Arena Project describes itself as a community initiative exploring the possibility of constructing a multi-purpose arena in Wilmington. Project representatives said additional information about the feasibility study process will be shared as it becomes available.
