Six Months, Millions in Impact: GRSA’s 2025 Highlights So Far
Thursday, July 10, 2025, 1pm
2025 has been a standout year for the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, and we’re only halfway through. From record-breaking tournaments to national media exposure, Greater Raleigh continues to prove it’s one of the country’s most dynamic destinations for sports events of all kinds. Already this year, Raleigh, N.C., hosted The Soccer Tournament (TST), NCAA March Madness, NCAA Division II Baseball, major esports competitions and much more. Here's a look at the key moments and milestones from the first six months of the year.
March Madness delivers slam-dunk results
One of this year’s biggest wins came in March when Raleigh hosted the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds at the recently renamed Lenovo Center. The event was a slam dunk for the destination, attracting more than 21,000 visitors and generating over 20,800 hotel room-nights. In total, the tournament brought in an estimated $16.4 million in direct economic impact, reinforcing Raleigh’s reputation as a top-tier basketball city and a reliable NCAA host. Read more about it, here.
TST and Cary Tennis Classic return to Cary
TST returned to Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park in June for its third—and most successful—year yet. With 48 men’s teams, 16 women’s teams and players from 34 countries, the event welcomed over 51,000 attendees during its six-day run. The tournament featured a prize pool of $2 million and national exposure from The Pat McAfee Show, which was broadcast live from Cary for two days. A major highlight this year was the debut of The Cary Cup, a youth tournament using TST’s signature 7v7 format and Target Score Time™. With more than 130 boys and girls teams from U11–U19 representing nearly 60 clubs across multiple states, the inaugural Cary Cup energized venues in Cary and Apex, and culminated in championship matches on the main TST fields at WakeMed Soccer Park.
In addition, the Cary Tennis Classic returned to Cary Tennis Park from June 29-July 6, welcoming professional players. The tournament featured both men's and women’s championship play and held ATP 75 and WTT 100 status. GRSA was once again proud to sponsor the event, which was projected to drive around 2,000 hotel room-nights and more than $1 million in economic impact.
A home run for baseball season in Cary
Baseball season also made headlines this summer as Cary hosted the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship for the 15th consecutive year at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Total attendance reached 7,822 and generated about 2,200 hotel room-nights. The success of this year’s tournament helped cement the event’s place in Cary through at least 2038.
Esports thrive in Raleigh with global spotlight
Raleigh continued to shine in the esports arena as well. In June, the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Major brought 16 of the best Rocket League teams to compete at Lenovo Center. The event, operated by global esports organizer Blast, featured a $351,000 prize pool and drew fans both in person and online. The Greater Raleigh Esports Local Organizing Committee (GRELOC) played a key role in making this event possible, continuing its work to grow Raleigh’s presence as a leading esports hub in the U.S.
Looking ahead, the rest of 2025 promises even more excitement for Greater Raleigh. With a strong lineup of sports events, a proven record of success and national recognition across disciplines, we’re proud to keep elevating Wake County as one of the nation’s top destinations for sports tourism.
Header image by Alyson Boyer Rode