CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — Leaders of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill aspire to put the school “on the global map” with the development of a new stadium to host cricket, rugby and soccer games ahead of the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, according to a proposal for the Carolina North campus.
The UNC Board of Trustees discussed plans on Wednesday afternoon for the “NC Colosseum,” a proposed stadium that would be constructed less than two miles from the main campus.
The presentation during the meeting dove into the value of bringing the new venue to UNC, from the angle of its mixed uses as a sports and entertainment space to the international perception the space could bring for North Carolina.
UNC Trustee Vimal Kolappa, who pitched the idea, encouraged the board that the colosseum can be constructed “in the most cost-effective manner,” with a “really very, very high” return on investment.
“We need to make sure that Chapel Hill gets a piece of that money, all the taxes, plus ticket sales, TV rights,” Kolappa said during the UNC Board of Trustees committee meeting on Wednesday. “Three million people are going to watch the game, and we need to get this done, possibly before the 2028 Olympics, because we’ll have a lot of major games come here.“
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FILE – North Carolina’s Ally Sentnor (21) passes the ball during the first half of the team’s NCAA College Cup semifinal soccer match against Florida State in Cary, N.C., Dec. 2, 2022. Two players from North Carolina, Sentnor and Savy King, were selected with the top two picks in the National Women’s Soccer League draft Friday night, Jan. 12, 2024. Sentnor, the ACC Midfielder of the Year, went with the No. 1 pick overall to the expansion Utah Royals. As a sophomore last year she had 11 goals and seven assists. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker) -
North Carolina’s Kate Faasse (26) passes the ball against Florida State during the first half of the NCAA College Cup simi-final soccer match in Cary, N.C., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker) -
North Carolina’s Olivia Thomas and Wake Forest’s Sierra Sythe (19) battle for a ball during the first half of NCAA Women’s College Cup soccer final in Cary, N.C., Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) -
North Carolina interim head coach Damon Nahas is dunked after defeating Wake Forest in an NCAA Women’s College Cup soccer final in Cary, N.C., Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
It’s slated to hold a capacity of 25,000 spectators, as the university seeks to establish North Carolina as a “global sports capital” on the East Coast before the 2028 Olympics.
According to the Board of Trustees’ agenda, the venue is characterized as a “premier multi-sport complex” with the ability to host football, rugby and soccer games, while also being tailored for concerts and other cultural festivities.
The colosseum may also be utilized for school events, public memberships for gyms, courts and pools, as well as attracting an entertainment district highlighted by retail stores, dining areas and hotels, the report said.
In the report, UNC school leaders cite Eden Park stadium in New Zealand, the host of several World Cup matches in rugby and cricket — while sometimes referred to as the country’s national stadium — as the inspiration for the colosseum.
The economic impact the stadium would bring to the state is estimated to be between $5 billion and $6 billion over the next 10 years, according to the proposal.
NC Colosseum presents an opportunity to “beat others to the punch” compared to states like Georgia, Virginia, and Maryland, the report said.
The UNC report also calls attention to the international appeal of cricket, boasting the second largest fan base among all sports worldwide (behind soccer) and exhibiting global brand value worth approximately $50 billion.
The sport has also gathered a slight following in the Triangle area, particularly Morrisville, which has hosted Minor League Cricket every year since 2021.
UNC Trustee Marty Kotis mentioned that this idea is definitely something worth considering in the future.
“I think given the 2028 Olympics, and the fact that cricket is the second-largest sport in the world, bodes well for [this project],” Kotis said. “I do think this presents a very interesting vision for Carolina North’s ability to generate revenues for the state.”
The NC Colosseum will be addressed again to the full board on Thursday.