The region will host five major soccer events in November and December

Raleigh, N.C. (Nov. 7, 2024) – Greater Raleigh will continue to solidify its standing as a leading destination for youth and collegiate soccer this fall by hosting several key soccer events including the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series, the Men's and Women's ACC Soccer Championships and the Men's and Women's NCAA Division I Soccer Championships (College Cups). With this exciting lineup of youth and collegiate events, Greater Raleigh is poised to attract some of soccer’s top athletes and fans nationwide. In total, these events are expected to attract an estimated 95,000 visitors to the Greater Raleigh area, equaling over 37,000 room nights and an estimated $30.8 million in economic impact.

"Greater Raleigh is excited to welcome teams from all over the country to compete in these major soccer events," said Scott Dupree, Executive Director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA). "Our world-class facilities play a pivotal role in attracting these sporting events to our area. These signature events generate significant economic benefits for the region and reinforce Greater Raleigh's reputation as a hub for soccer and sporting excellence."

Kicking off the months of soccer at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary are the collegiate ACC Championships, beginning with the Women's semifinals on November 7 and the title match to follow on November 10. The Men’s ACC semifinals are set for November 14, while the title match is set for November 17. This year's tournament will mark the seventh year of WakeMed Soccer Park hosting the Women’s and Men’s ACC Championships.

Following the ACC Championships, the visitRaleigh.com Showcase Series returns to WRAL Soccer Park and multiple other regional venues, featuring four major events over five weeks. Running from November 9 through December 15, this tournament is the largest annual youth and amateur sporting event in the Research Triangle region. This nationally recognized event is renowned for its elite competition and a strong reputation among college coaches. In 2024, the host organization, North Carolina Football Club (NCFC) Youth celebrated its 50th anniversary, making this year's event a significant milestone for the club.

The excitement continues with the December NCAA Division I Women’s and Men’s Soccer College Cup Championships. The College Cups consist of two single-elimination semifinal games, with the two teams winning in the semifinals to advance and compete in the national championship games. The women will compete on December 6 and 9 and the men will compete on December 13 and 16. Both the ACC and NCAA championships will be held at WakeMed Soccer Park, a premier venue boasting a 10,000-seat stadium home to two professional soccer teams — North Carolina Football Club and North Carolina Courage. This top-tier facility provides the perfect venue for two of the most elite collegiate soccer events in the nation.

The complete lineup of events is below:

About the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA):
A division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh) – the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) markets and promotes Raleigh and all of Wake County to generate and/or retain sports-related businesses (tournaments, championships, special events and meetings) for economic development. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes 18.5 million visitors annually, whose spending tops $3.2 billion. The visitor economy supports nearly 26,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $307 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $712 in taxes annually. raleighsports.org

Media Contact:
Visit Raleigh
Dana Goodwin
Public Relations and International Tourism Manager
919.830.1289
dgoodwin@visitRaleigh.com

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