Cary Gets TST Through 2029, State of Cary to Carpenter Village, Joint MPO Meeting, and 5th Annual Taste of China

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TIME TO VOTE: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH!!!

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TST in Cary Through 2029

Monday Cary issued a press release announcing that TST (The Soccer Tournament) will return to Cary through 2029:

CARY, N.C. — The Town of Cary and The Soccer Tournament (TST) today announced a new long-term agreement that will keep the world’s premier 7v7 soccer festival at WakeMed Soccer Park through 2029.The partnership is supported by a grant from the NC Department of Commerce Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund, recognizing TST’s impact in attracting visitors, driving local spending, and showcasing North Carolina on the global stage. The fund will reimburse eligible in-state expenses up to $6.8 million over the duration of the agreement.

“What makes Cary special is our people,” said Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. “Our staff, our volunteers, and our citizens always show up and take pride in making visitors feel welcome. The State’s investment is a recognition of that and how amazing our facilities are. We’re proud to keep hosting The Soccer Tournament and to continue sharing this experience with our community and the world for years to come.”

Now entering its fourth year in Cary, TST has continued to expand its global reach and influence. The 2025 event doubled the size of the women’s tournament to 16 teams and achieved a record attendance of 51,730. Nearly 2,000 players representing 34 countries competed across the men’s and women’s fields. Notable past participants include Carli Lloyd, Sergio Agüero, Heather O’Reilly, Luis Nani, Hope Solo, JJ Watt, Steve Nash, Ali Krieger, and Pat McAfee, alongside entries from world-renowned clubs such as Atlético de Madrid, Inter Milan, Club América, Borussia Dortmund, West Ham United, and Wrexham AFC.

“The Town of Cary and its residents have played a major role in TST becoming the preeminent small-sided soccer festival in the world,” said TST CEO Jon Mugar. “Our number one goal is to deliver an unforgettable experience to fans and participants, further cementing TST as a worldwide destination. This support will go a long way toward ensuring we are able to continue to deliver on that.”

“We love hosting the event in Cary and I can’t wait to see everyone back at TST next year!” said NBA superstar and TST co-owner Chris Paul.

An estimated 31,657 fans traveled to Cary from outside Wake County, including visitors from all 50 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Fans raved about their experience at TST 2025, which featured a larger festival footprint with club activations, international food, and two live broadcasts of ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show.”In post-event surveys, 80% of attendees called TST the best soccer event they had attended in the past year, and 87% said they would recommend it to friends and family.

According to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, TST has generated $23.9 million in total economic impact for Cary and Wake County since 2024.

The 2025 tournament generated more than $14.7 million in direct economic impact, including over $547,000 in local tax revenue. Nearly 20,000 room nights were utilized from out-of-county visiting fans, driving $3.8 million in local lodging and transportation spending.

TST has been held at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary since its inception in 2023. The 158-acre park is known for its top-tier fields, natural setting, and long history of hosting championship soccer at every level, including the upcoming NCAA Division I Men’s College Cup in December and a doubleheader of both the men’s and women’s soccer championships in 2026.

This year also marked the debut of The Cary Cup, the first youth tournament to use TST’s signature 7v7 format and Target Score Time™. More than 130 boys’ and girls’ teams from nearly 60 clubs across the country competed, with championship matches played on TST’s stadium fields at WakeMed Soccer Park. As part of the agreement, The Cary Cup will return each year alongside the main tournament. Teams interested in competing in the 2026 edition of The Cary Cup can find more information at carync.gov/thecarycup.

To celebrate the new four-year partnership, TST and The Town of Cary will host a Kickoff Party at Sports & Social in Fenton on November 18, featuring giveaways, special announcements, and a live watch party for the USA vs. Uruguay soccer match.

Details for TST 2026, including dates, participants, and expanded fan experiences, will be unveiled in the coming months.

TST remains open to all teams, from global legends to local hopefuls. Applications to enter a team for TST 2026 are now open at tst7v7.com.

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About The Tournament

Founded in 2014, The Tournament is owned by Jon Mugar and Chris Paul. Its flagship property, The Basketball Tournament (TBT), has crowned 12 champions, awarded more than $15 million in prizes, and introduced innovations such as the Elam Ending®. In 2023, The Tournament launched its second property – The Soccer Tournament (TST) which has become the preeminent small-sided soccer festival in the world. For more information on The Tournament and its properties, visit TheTournament.com.”

This is not only great entertainment but a huge economic boost for our region. I am proud that Cary will host TST through 2029. This is a must-see event so get your tickets now!

Manager One-On-One

The town manager and I met for our weekly meeting on Monday. Topics included an issue with fireworks, traffic studies, and budget related revenues and cost sharing.

State of Cary at Carpenter Village

I presented the State of Cary address at Carpenter Village on Tuesday night. There were approximately three dozen in attendance. Afterwards I answered questions along with Mayor Pro-Tem Bryson-Robinson and council members Kohn-Johnson and Bush.

Joint MPO Transportation Meeting

I joined members of the Capital Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board (CAMPO) and members of Triangle West Wednesday morning in a joint MPO meeting. Topics of discussion included the 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan and the CAMPO and Triangle West Joint Strategic Rail Infrastructure Study.

The 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan has three areas of shared investments that include:

  • Transit & Rail
  • Healthy, Safe, Resilient Mobility
  • Complete Corridors/Managed Motorways

The two MPOs previously decided to prioritize investments in the following for incremental progress while larger programmatic investments are pursued:

  • Grade Crossing Eliminations
  • Advancing Station Work (including NEPA and Engineering Studies)
  • Protective Land Purchases for a Regional Maintenance Facility and layover yards
  • Interlockings and Sidings
  • Ridership Studies
  • Investments in the NC-Line from Burlington to Selma

Projects will be submitted to the state based on these priorities. Triangle West has already approved the project list, and CAMPO will vote on it in November.

The meeting concluded after about an hour and a half.

5th Annual Taste of China Festival

Saturday, I joined council member Bansal and several state and local officials at the Taste of China festival at Downtown Cary Park. I, along with others, were given an opportunity to address the attendees. Here are the notes I spoke from:

“Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to Cary Downtown Park.
We are honored to host this year’s Taste of China celebration—an opportunity to experience the flavor and tradition of Chinese culture right here in the heart of Cary.

Today is more than just great food, art, and performances. It is a celebration of community. Events like this remind us how fortunate we are to live in a town where diversity is embraced, and where traditions from around the world are shared and enjoyed by neighbors and friends.

Thank you to the organizers, performers, vendors, volunteers, and community partners who worked so hard to bring this event to life. Your dedication helps make Cary a place where everyone feels welcome and included.

To all joining us today—whether you grew up with these traditions or are experiencing them for the first time—I hope you leave with full hearts, full stomachs, and a deeper appreciation for Chinese culture.

On behalf of the Town of Cary—welcome, thank you for being here, and enjoy the Taste of China!”

I am proud that Cary is a diverse community with almost 1/4th of our residents born outside the U.S.

NCDOT Information

At the last Wake County Mayors Association meeting information was provided by a representative from NCDOT. Here are some of the interesting points made about NCDOT maintained roads:

  • NC has 80,591 road miles and 167,270 lane miles. More state-owned roads than any state except Texas.
  • NCDOT Division 5 (Wake, Durham, Franklin, Vance, Warren, Person, and Granville has 6,757 road miles and 14,945 lane miles. More than 14 states.
  • Wake County has 2,757 road miles and 6,229 lane miles. More than Vermont, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and New Jersey.

Council Out and About

Message From Mayor and Council

This week has been such a wonderful reminder of how our community “shows up” for one another. On Tuesday, I attended the District B Community Meeting at The Cary Theater, and I was thrilled to see so many neighbors come out to listen, learn, ask questions, and make their voices heard. That same energy carried into Thursday night’s Council Meeting, where residents came out to speak during Public Speaks Out. It’s inspiring to witness how deeply our community members care about shaping Cary’s future together.

On Wednesday morning, I joined the Cary Chamber’s Eye Opener Breakfast, where Dr. Katherine Loflin shared her deep knowledge of Cary’s history. As the Council Liaison for the Historic Preservation Commission and the Friends of Page-Walker (Cary’s historical society), I never want to miss one of her talks. She has such a gift for bringing Cary’s story to life. (In fact, my son and I even went to one of her recent events at the Barnabas Jones property near Jack Smith Park.) 

Perhaps the highlight of my week was Cary High School’s Homecoming. There’s nothing quite like seeing the streets lined with families and friends, alumni, and students cheering on the oldest public high school in North Carolina. From the parade to the homecoming football game, the marching band, and crowning the winners from the homecoming court, it was a day full of pride and community spirit.

I can’t say enough about how much I love our town. Cary is full of people who care deeply for one another and love to celebrate together. On that note, I want to mention another way we can show up for each other. Food insecurity is growing, and local food banks and Dorcas Ministries need our help to keep their shelves stocked. Please consider making a donation if you are able: (https://dorcasnc.org/donate/)

And if you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out: (https://foodbankcenc.org/food-finder/). Several friends have shared how these programs were lifelines for their families, and no one should ever feel alone in seeking support.

Take care,

Michelle Craig

District B Council Member

Grand Opening of Cary Acclaim at Cary Pointe

Councilmembers Sarika Bansal and Lori Bush attended the ribbon cutting at Acclaim, the new active adult community in Cary. Open since April, new residents are moving in daily and becoming part of the vibrant District D community.

District B Community Meeting

Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmembers Lori Bush, Michelle Craig, and Carissa Kohn-Johnson hosted the District B Community Meeting at The Cary Theater. The meeting included presentations on the State of Cary, Town Financials, Downtown Development, Aging Resources, and Public Safety. Following the presentations, the Mayor and Councilmembers answered questions from the audience.

Eye Opener Breakfast

Councilmember Michelle Craig attended the Cary Chamber Eye Opener Breakfast, where Katherine Loflin spoke about Cary’s Missing Landmarks and her new book, Hidden History.

Islamic Center Visit

Councilmember Sarika Bansal spent time with Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam at the Islamic Center of Morrisville, engaging with residents and community leaders.

Courtyards at West Cary Diwali Party

Councilmember Sarika Bansal attended the Courtyards at West Cary Diwali Party, where attendees celebrated the holiday and shared in the spirit of community and togetherness.

Trunk or Treat

Councilmember Sarika Bansal stopped by the Mills Park Elementary School Trunk or Treat to celebrate with students and parents and enjoy the creative costumes and decorated trunks.

Laasya School of Dance 30th Anniversary

Councilmember Sarika Bansal read a letter of congratulations at the Laasya School of Dance 30th Anniversary celebration, recognizing the school’s longstanding contributions to Cary’s arts and cultural community.

Bhojan with Baba (Dine with Saibaba)

Councilmember Sarika Bansal attended “Bhojan with Baba” (Dine with Saibaba), a special community event at the Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mandir of NC celebrating faith, service, and community spirit.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

Council,

This week, I joined Councilmember Bansal at Panther Creek High School for a community meeting to facilitate conversations with nearby residents and parents about traffic concerns around the school. About thirty community members attended and offered thoughtful input on improving traffic flow along NCDOT’s McCrimmon Parkway. 

Wishing you all a safe and Happy Halloween. 

Sean

New Veterans Day Flag Displays

In honor of Veterans Day, American flags have been proudly displayed along Academy Street and at Veterans Freedom Park. Flag banners were installed using existing brackets along Academy Street, while removable flagpoles were added at Veterans Freedom Park for the display. The flags will remain in place through early next week. To learn more about Cary’s Veterans Day Observance, click here.

Organizational Development Partners with Wake Tech

This week, Organizational Development (OD) wrapped up a series of classes delivered through a new partnership with Wake Tech Community College (WTCC). For the first time, professional instructors brought handpicked courses directly to staff, with a mix of on-site and virtual classes such as Confidence in Public Speaking and Big Data & Business Analytics. A total of 55 participants were enrolled in the four offerings. This initiative reflects Cary’s commitment to investing in our greatest resource – our people. This partnership created meaningful opportunities for employees to learn, grow, and strengthen the skills they use to serve our community. Building on this success, a new set of offerings is being planned for spring.

NVIDIA GTC in Washington D.C.

CIO, Nicole Coughlin represented Cary at NVIDIA’s GTC Conference in Washington, D.C., participating in a session on Leadership Strategies to Transform Public Services. The conversation explored how AI and data-driven decision-making are reshaping local government, improving operational efficiency, and advancing digital twin initiatives that help cities better model, predict, and plan for the future.

Regionalization Study Kickoff

On Wednesday, Apex and Holly Springs joined Cary to officially kick off a regional wastewater study exploring long-term solutions for all three communities. Each municipality shared project updates, and consultants from HDR and Jacobs led a discussion on project scope, success factors, and desired outcomes. The session took place at the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility (WWRWRF), one of the sites under evaluation and currently undergoing an expansion master plan. The study is planned to wrap up in spring 2026.

Cary and Apex Tour UNC Cooling Tower

On Wednesday, Cary and Apex Utilities staff toured one of the large, chilled water plants at UNC Chapel Hill to learn more about how UNC staff have optimized their processes to use reclaimed water for their chilled water production. Reclaimed water is used on the UNC Chapel Hill campus as makeup water within the cooling towers in place of potable water to conserve water. Staff learned how proper management and optimization of the treatment processes improves water quality and prevents scaling in cooling tower applications for chilled water production.

Halloween Recap

During the month of October, Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources hosted a series of fall and Halloween events across town. On October 24, the Pumpkin Flotilla at Bond Park drew 1,300 attendees for lakeside festivities featuring live music, food vendors, and floating jack-o’-lanterns. That same evening, the Theater’s 10th annual Zombiepalooza attracted thousands to Downtown Cary Park’s Great Lawn Pavilion for its popular costume contest and short film festival.

The celebration continued with Teen Council’s Haunted Walk at Bond Park’s Challenge Course, which drew nearly 1,000 visitors through themed areas such as Twisted Circus and Haunted Graveyard. On October 25, Downtown Cary Park’s Pumpkin Carve welcomed more than 2,000 participants who created 515 jack-o’-lanterns, while sustainability efforts converted 880 pounds of pumpkin waste into compost. The event concluded with a Halloween movie double feature drawing more than 1,000 attendees. Across town, ACCESS Cary’s Moonlight Mayhem at the Senior Center offered games, crafts, and dancing.

Important Dates

Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, November 3
5:15 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, November 3
6:30 p.m.

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday, November 5
12:00 p.m.

Economic Development Committee
Wednesday, November 5
5:15 p.m.

Cary Candidate Filing

Filing for Cary Town Council ended on July 18th. Here are the candidates for Cary Council (Incumbents are denoted with I):

  • At-Large: Carissa Johnson (I), Marjorie Eastman
  • District A: Jennifer Robinson (I), Brittany Richards
  • District C: Renee Miller, Bella Huang

Elections are on November 4th.

To find out more about the Candidates view the Cary Candidate Forum here.

You can see the League of Women Voters Forum here.

Cary Mayor Rumors for 2027

Rumors that these next two years on the Cary Council will be my last are simply not true. I fully intend to seek re-election and am grateful to have the unwavering support of my family, friends, and constituents.

As the only living Mayor who has led Cary through a recession and some of the most challenging financial times, I see it as both my responsibility and my calling to continue my service on the Cary Council. I am committed to working alongside my colleagues to help guide our community through today’s uncertainties.

In the coming months, I encourage all citizens to focus on the important Cary Council election ahead, where three seats are up for decision. Once those choices are made by our community, we can then look ahead to November 2027.

Until then, I remain dedicated to my oath and to serving as Cary’s Mayor. I’m excited for what lies ahead—tomorrow and beyond.

Mayor’s Mailbox

  • A complaint about trash on soccer fields on High House.
  • A complaint about abandoned vehicles in the Brickyard at Highway 55 and Mahal Avenue.
  • A complaint about a malfunctioning railroad crossing at Highway 54 and Highway 55.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an Economic Development meeting, a HRID (Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity) Advisory Board meeting, and the annual Veterans Day luncheon.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, November 9th, 2025. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts, those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.