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Good afternoon, Raleigh. Happy New Year! 🥳

The Raleigh Rundown is back and looking forward to a great year sharing local news, events, and helpful information about our city.

In today’s Raleigh Rundown:

• 6 fun things to do in Raleigh this weekend

• Raleigh + Durham among most educated cities

• New developments in Raleigh

• New transit center coming to RTP

Let’s get to it. 🏃

Stories this week

NC State fires Robert Anae, Kurt Roper named new OC 🏈

NC State fired offensive coordinator Robert Anae after two mediocre offensive seasons (ranked 83rd in 2024 and 95th in 2023 in total offense). QB coach Kurt Roper will replace him while maintaining his QB coaching duties.

The team went 6-7 this season, dealing with starting QB Grayson McCall's injury-forced retirement. Freshman QB CJ Bailey stepped in, posting strong rookie numbers (2,413 yards, 17 TDs). Additionally, Gavin Locklear, a former NC State walk-on player, was named tight ends coach.

1,000 apartment and townhome units coming near Dix Park 🏠

The Raleigh Housing Authority plans to redevelop Heritage Park, a public housing site near Dorothea Dix Park, transforming its current 122 units into a mixed-use development with up to 1,000 residential units. The project would increase the site's height from three to twelve stories to accommodate apartments, townhomes, retail, and community amenities.

Construction on the 11.61-acre property is set to begin in fall 2025 and finish by 2033, with current residents having the option to return with income-based rent. The development joins several other major projects in the growing Dix Park area.

RDU getting a new nonstop flight to Las Vegas 🏢

Frontier Airlines will restart nonstop flights between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Las Vegas in 2025, with sales beginning May 22. The route, joining existing service from Delta and Southwest Airlines, marks Frontier's return to a market it previously served in 2023.

The ultra-low-cost carrier has seen growing success at RDU, carrying over 590,000 passengers through November 2023—a 12% increase from the previous year. While base fares may be lower, passengers pay extra for services like checked bags and seat selection.

SAS preparing for IPO window

Analytics giant SAS Institute may pursue an IPO in 2025 as market conditions improve. While CEO Jim Goodnight previously targeted 2024, the $3 billion Cary-based company has been patient.

CTO Bryan Harris indicated SAS was about a year away from IPO readiness, with recent acquisitions and upgrades moving them closer to this goal. IPO expert Jay Ritter notes that while SAS has the stability to wait, other Triangle tech companies like Pendo, JupiterOne, and Phononic may also consider public offerings as conditions become favorable.

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND

Carolina Hurricanes VS Minnesota Wild | Saturday, 7 PM | Lenovo Center

The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Minnesota Wild at the Lenovo Center.

Click here for tickets.

COST: $80 and up

Carolina Hurricanes VS Pittsburgh Penguins | Sunday, 6 PM | Lenovo Center

The Carolina Hurricanes take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Lenovo Center.

Click here for tickets.

COST: $54 and up

Oak City Brewing 9 year anniversary party + bonfire | Saturday, 12 PM - 8 PM | 616 N 1st Ave, Knightdale

Enjoy a full day packed with great beer + a new release, live music from start to finish, glassware giveaways, and delicious food trucks. Gather around our massive bonfire to keep the winter vibes warm and cozy. Bring your fold-out chairs and blankets for the lawn!

Live Music Lineup:
Proton Jones from 12–3 PM
Coddle Creek from 3–6 PM
Sterling Scott Duo from 6–8 PM

Food Trucks (12–8 PM):
Caribbean Kicker
Not Just Icing
Naked Empanada

Animate Raleigh | Friday - Sunday | Raleigh Convention Center - 500 S Salisbury, Raleigh

It's an animation celebration at GalaxyCon Presents ANIMATE! Check out 3 days of anime, animation, cosplay, and more!

Featuring entertainment, Q&As, video and tabletop gaming, panels, costume contests, and so much more fandom for you to explore.

Info and tickets.

COST: $55 and up (kids 9 and under free)

Hike & Chill Umstead | Saturday, 10 AM - 1 PM | Umstead Park - 5171 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh

Step into 2025 — with fresh air, scenic views, and a 3-mile stroll perfect for resetting, connecting, and crushing your goals.

As always, our experiences are open to all hiking levels and focus on creating community, enjoying nature therapy, and exploring local parks and greenways.

Click here for more information.

COST: Free

WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday

51 🌡️ 24 | ⛅️ | 0%

Saturday

41 🌡️ 23 | 🌤️ | 0%

Sunday

48 🌡️ 36 | 🌥️ | 0%

LOCAL SPORTS

Hockey 🏒

• Saturday: Carolina Hurricanes VS Minnesota Wild | 7 PM

• Sunday: Carolina Hurricanes VS Pittsburgh Penguins | 6 PM

Men’s College Basketball 🏀

• Saturday: UNC at Notre Dame | 12:00 PM

• Saturday: NC State at Wake Forest | 12:00 PM

• Saturday: Duke at SMU | 2:15

Football 🏈

• Sunday: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons | 1:00 PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the Raleigh Rundown today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who likes to read. 📖

Have any suggestions for what you would like to see in future editions? Reply to this email and let me know!

Let’s do this again next Thursday!