RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – As expansion plans are underway for Raleigh Convention Center, there are also plans for the building to have a new name with a corporate sponsor.
Raleigh City Council is holding a public hearing on Tuesday (June 16) to hear public comments on on a proposal to name the Convention Center the “Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center.”
The proposed name will be applied to the Convention Center for an initial term of 15 years with the opportunity for two 5-year extension terms. In exchange for the City granting Atlantic Union Bank naming rights to the Convention Center, Atlantic Union Bank has agreed to pay the City an annual naming rights fee, which first annual fee shall be in the amount of $525,000.00 and shall therefore escalate by 2% on an annual basis during the initial term of the agreement.
If approved by Raleigh City Council, the parties will enter into a written agreement setting for the term length and naming rights fee together with other associated rights and responsibilities of the parties following the public hearing.
The public hearing will be held during the afternoon City Council session starting at 1 p.m. Members of the public wishing to speak at the hearing may sign up at the same manner as for other hearings on the June 16 agenda.
The convention center is being expanded by 300,000 square feet, as local leaders say a larger facility will help keep Raleigh competitive with other cities with a similar size and footprint.
“This state-of-the-art convention center expansion is a transformative investment in the future of downtown Raleigh,” said Dennis Edwards, President and CEO of Visit Raleigh last year when the expansions plans were revealed. “It will bring thousands of new visitors, driving more restaurant reservations, hotel stays, and traffic to local businesses. This facility strengthens Raleigh’s position as a vibrant, nationally competitive destination for meetings, events, and tourism.”
The expansion will feature 13 meeting rooms to provide options to meet the needs of a diverse range of events. With soothing yet upscale colors and finishes, guests will also enjoy welcoming pre-function and registration areas for the free flow of foot traffic, or for gathering, networking, or conversing between event sessions.
In May, convention center officials announced that a “Shimmer Walk” on the third floor will allow visitors to see the famous Shimmer Wall art at an equal elevation never before possible. This walk will connect bridges allowing observation of the art as you travel from one building to another as well as panoramic views of downtown.
Construction on the new space is scheduled to begin at the end of 2026, and the Red Hat Amphitheater is being relocated to accommodate the expansion.