Stay in the RTP

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Three of the USA’s biggest sporting Universities are located here. Based on the triangle formed by the University and research centres that exist within in the region (North Carolina State University in Raleigh, Duke University in Durham and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill), the RTP, is now viewed as one of the most successful business economies in the world for IT, medical research and production.

Like Silicon Valley, however, there’s much in the way of business parks and houses but not much in the way of a thriving downtown. Raleigh is the main, albeit small, downtown center in the region. It is a well-preserved downtown area, with old cobblestone streets forming the City Market area, and containing major historic sites including the State Capitol, the Executive Mansion and Historic Oakwood.

The region’s main sporting facilities are located within these University towns. The biggest of these are in Raleigh, which is home to the Hurricanes (see below) and the University of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team (former college home of Michael Jordan).

North Carolina University itself is located in Chapel Hill – probably the nicest, and quaintest, of the towns in the triangle. The main focus here is Franklin Street, where coffeehouses and numerous restaurants line the pedestrian walkways.

Durham is the home of Duke University, which is also one of the most successful college basketball teams in the country. Durham is also referred to as the ‘City of Medicine’ and is home to almost a quarter million people all spread out over quite a large area.

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The Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located quite centrally within the regional ‘triangle’ some 20km away from both Raleigh and Durham. The airport is connected to the regional centers by the TTA’s van transportation service, which then connects to TTA’s regional route service that connects the surrounding cities of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary and the RTP Transit Center. Transfers can then be made on other local bus services to locations throughout the Triangle.

Amtrak services are located in Raleigh at 320 West Carrabus Street. A CAT bus service provides connection between here and the downtown Moore Square Station. Greyhound buses can be accessed at the three cities and the RTP, with the main terminals being located in Durham at 820 Morgan Street and in Raleigh at 314 W Jones Street.

Currently, the largish triangle region relies on buses to service its public transit needs. There are major plans for a regional rail service to be developed in the future, however. The Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) provides bus services connecting the cities and towns within region with each other, with a focus on accessing the RTP. There are also local bus transit services provided within the cities of Raleigh (Capital Area Transit – CAT, centered on the major transit facility at Moore Square station) and Durham (Durham Area Transit Authority – DATA). Note that there are not very reliable nighttime services and little weekend services provided.

CAROLINA HURRICANES

THE RALEIGH SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT ARENA

Ticket information through NHL

The Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena, or the RBC Center as it is now known, hosts the Hurricanes and is located about 10km north-west of the downtown area in North Raleigh, adjacent to Carter-Finlay Stadium at 1400 Edward Mill Road. Opened in 1999, the Arena has a capacity of 18,000 for ice hockey. It is part of the large North Carolina State University Athletics Complex. The NC State Wolfpack football team plays out of Carter-Finlay.

From downtown Raleigh (the Moore Square Transit Centre) the TTA Regional Bus Routes 105 and 107 stops at the intersection of Blue Ridge Road and Trinity Road on their way to the RTP Transit Centre. The Arena is a short walk westwards along Trinity Road

Mid September – Champions Tour SAS Championship, Prestonwood Country Club, 300 Prestonwood Parkway, Cary.  

Ticket and event information through www.pgatour.com

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

Ticket information through NC State

The NC State Wolfpack main campus is located just west of downtown off Hillsborough Road. However, the major athletic facilities of the Wolfpack are located some 10km north-west of downtown at the intersection of Blue Ridge Road and Trinity Road, just south of Route 40.

The Wolfpack have teams in most sports, including football and men’s and women’s basketball. The football team plays out of the large Carter-Finlay Stadium. The men’s basketball team play out of the Entertainment and Sports Arena, home of the Hurricanes and adjacent to Carter-Finlay Stadium. The women’s basketball team play out of Reynolds Coliseum, which has a capacity for 14,000 people.

From downtown Raleigh catch the TTA Bus Routes 105 and 107, as indicated above for the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL

Ticket information through UNC Tar Heels

The UNC Tar Heels are located on South Road and Raleigh Road in the middle of the township of Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels have teams in most sports, including football and men’s and women’s basketball. The football team plays out of Kenan Stadium, which is located on campus and has a capacity of 60,000. The women’s basketball teams play out of the Carmichael Auditorium, which is located on campus and has a capacity of 10,000. The men’s basketball team plays out of the larger and newer Dean E. Smith Center, but are also located on campus at Manning Drive.

From Raleigh or the RTP, catch the TTA Bus Routes 402, 403, 412 or 413 that go the UNC Student Center on campus.

DUKE UNIVERSITY

Ticket information through Duke Blue Devils

The Duke Blue Devils are located in (and all over) Durham on Duke University Road in the western section of downtown. The Blue Devils have teams in most sports, including football and men’s and women’s basketball. The football team plays out of Wallace Wade Stadium, which has a capacity of 33,000 and is located on campus off Whitford Drive. The basketball teams play out of the Cameron Indoor Stadium, which has a capacity of just over 9,000, is located on campus just off Towerview Road.

From Raleigh or the RTP, catch the TTA Bus Routes 402, 403, 412 or 413 which get you to the Morgan Street DATA Center in downtown. From there you can walk west along Main Street to the campus or catch a DATA bus to the campus. Note, the sporting facilities are located at the south-western end of the campus.