It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Bennett Place gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Center, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Looking for a placement is always difficult for a family. Contacting Sandy to help was”
“I have been working for ABC for two years now, and I am very grateful”
“Such a wonderful place to work! Caregivers that genuinely care with office support that go”
“I bn with this company for Abt a year and I love working for them”
“I cannot say enough good things about this company and the caregivers they provided after”
“This company is TOP-NOTCH! Incredibly helpful and super friendly. If you’re looking for a part-time”
“Sandy is very knowledgeable of assisted living options in the Winston Salem area. She helped”
“I highly recommend Sandy Bowen with Always Best Care. I called her with a very”
“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home”
“These folks are so helpful! They care about their clients and it shows in the”
“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home”
“During an unexpected hospital stay, Joanne provided much needed assistance. She provided excellent care and”
“If you are looking for attentive, quality home care look no further than Joanne and”
“Looking for a placement is always difficult for a family. Contacting Sandy to help was the best option. She was familiar with all assisted living/memory care facilities around town and was quick to respond to the family with tours. She delivered FL2 forms to physician's and made the transition an easy process. I recommend Sandy 100 % for any family needing a smaller community for their elderly family member.”
“I have been working for ABC for two years now, and I am very grateful for my position. The staff are acceptable, the clients are lovely, and the environments are professional. I highly recommend PCAs and CNAs to apply.”
“Such a wonderful place to work! Caregivers that genuinely care with office support that go above and beyond for staff/clients. Highly recommend for employment and senior in-home care support.”
“I bn with this company for Abt a year and I love working for them . They work with you,they care about ur personal life/ problems, really good at matching you with good clients..”
“I cannot say enough good things about this company and the caregivers they provided after my mom's recent accident and stay in a rehab facility. The staff were constantly in communication with us keeping us abreast of any little or big updates. Their attitudes were always helpful and they seemed to genuinely care. The caregivers they sent to sit with and take care of mom were EXCELLENT. I'm not sure how many different caregivers she had over the few weeks of her stay but there wasn't a single one that wasn't kind and extremely helpful. It took a tremendous load off of everyone in our family knowing that she was being well cared for when we couldn't be there. Thank you to Brandi, Joanne, Gina, and anyone I'm missing for everything you all did for us from the beginning of the process all the way to my mom's release today. Hopefully, we won't need your services again, but if we do, I know who I will be calling!”
“This company is TOP-NOTCH! Incredibly helpful and super friendly. If you’re looking for a part-time in caregiving, this is it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
“Sandy is very knowledgeable of assisted living options in the Winston Salem area. She helped with a family member’s search with care and consideration. We highly recommend.”
“I highly recommend Sandy Bowen with Always Best Care. I called her with a very tight timeframe to find a suitable memory care facility for my family member. She asked a lot of questions about my loved one to try and get to know her as much as possible. She worked very fast and lined up several appointments for us to tour places within a matter of days. She explained the process to me every step of the way and made sure we stayed on track. She attended the appointments with me and asked questions that I would never think to ask. I can’t thank her enough.”
“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”
“These folks are so helpful! They care about their clients and it shows in the service! I highly recommend ????”
“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”
“During an unexpected hospital stay, Joanne provided much needed assistance. She provided excellent care and supportive advocacy. It made dealing with the discomfort more bearable and gave me a safeguard to decipher the complicated choices to resolve health issues. I highly recommend this service.”
“If you are looking for attentive, quality home care look no further than Joanne and her team. A passion for excellence is driven for from this team. Family oriented and willing to work with all families.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting White Deer Park Nature Center with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local McNinch House Restaurant or visit Mordecai House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Center, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Center, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Center, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Town leaders discuss the idea, but residents want answers as they hear about issues in other cities.MATTHEWS, N.C. — Matthew town leaders are spending part of their Thursday evening discussing a proposed rezoning for a potential data center. The wooded stretch of 123 acres near East John Street and I-485 would, if approved, be approved for what's currently named "Project Accelerate".But ahead of the meeting, not all residents are on board with the project going online. Danielle Benham told WCNC Charlotte she's w...
Town leaders discuss the idea, but residents want answers as they hear about issues in other cities.
MATTHEWS, N.C. — Matthew town leaders are spending part of their Thursday evening discussing a proposed rezoning for a potential data center. The wooded stretch of 123 acres near East John Street and I-485 would, if approved, be approved for what's currently named "Project Accelerate".
But ahead of the meeting, not all residents are on board with the project going online. Danielle Benham told WCNC Charlotte she's worried about it.
"Matthews is a town out of a Hallmark movie," she said. "My first reaction to hearing a data center in Matthews: no. Just no."
Benham's sentiments are echoed in a Change petition against the center, which has already garnered more than 2,100 signatures. Among those who signed the petition are Chris and Elizabeth Loughlin, who said the data center could turn Matthews into something unrecognizable -- especially with many unanswered questions.
"I've heard stories from other communities where they are losing water pressure, raising electricity bills, coming in and using the resources," Chris Loughlin said.
Benham pointed to the developer's original plan for the land, which would have mixed office space, retail, housing, and a hotel together, as having far more charm and more in line with what Matthews is all about.
"If the area is going to be developed, it should be a way to tie in the personality of Matthews with that one-mile distance the data center is from downtown," she said.
The meeting on Thursday evening won't be the final opportunity for residents to share their voices with town leaders; public comment has been re-opened, with another meeting slated for Monday, October 13, at 7 p.m.
RALEIGH — NC State can now spend money that it receives as part of its men’s basketball arena naming rights deal in more ways, a change that comes as athletics departments search for additional funds in a revenue-sharing era.The Centennial Authority, which manages Raleigh’s Lenovo Center, approved the change at its meeting Thursday. NC State requested the broader use earlier this year.Other WRAL Top StoriesLenovo signed a six-year, $60-million deal to rename PNC Arena in September. NC State has played m...
RALEIGH — NC State can now spend money that it receives as part of its men’s basketball arena naming rights deal in more ways, a change that comes as athletics departments search for additional funds in a revenue-sharing era.
The Centennial Authority, which manages Raleigh’s Lenovo Center, approved the change at its meeting Thursday. NC State requested the broader use earlier this year.
Other WRAL Top Stories
Lenovo signed a six-year, $60-million deal to rename PNC Arena in September. NC State has played men’s basketball home games at the venue since it opened in 1999.
Previously, NC State was limited to spending its portion of the naming rights money – which now is about $500,000 per year — on “capital enhancements, improvements, expansions, repairs and replacements associated with maintaining the arena and accessory parking areas and access drives.”
That led to numerous upgrades of the team’s locker room – at a time when facilities mean less than before because players can be paid directly by the schools. Just this year, the program spent more than $285,000 for locker room repairs.
“NC State, about every three years, has used funds to upgrade or redo the men’s locker room,” said Kieran Shanahan, the vice chairman of the Centennial Authority board. “And I think they decided that, you know, doing that every three years is probably not necessary. They could use these funds better.”
With the change, NC State can use the money to support all aspects of the men’s basketball program, noting that increased attendance is a benefit to the arena.
“It’s a wonderful thing for us and we greatly appreciate the additional funding,” NC State athletics director Boo Corrigan told the board.
Under new head coach Will Wade, NC State has already sold out its home opener for the first time since 1999, its first game at the off-campus arena. Athletics director Boo Corrigan said the program has sold 2,000 new season tickets for Wade’s first season, pushing the Wolfpack over 10,000 season tickets sold.
There are some restrictions on the use of the money. It can’t be used for compensating athletes, for payments to organizations that compensate athletes or for expenses in support of games played outside of the arena.
Schools, as of July 1, can share up to $20.5 million in revenue with athletes, an added expense for athletic departments. NC State’s athletics expenses are expected to rise to about $147 million, including revenue sharing, in 2025-26, according to figures presented to the university’s board of trustees.
As part of the agreement, NC State agreed to keep $100,000 in an arena enhancement fund for projects at the venue. But the Wolfpack will have access to more than $400,000 that is in the fund as of June 30.
NC State shares the arena with the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, who operate the arena under an agreement with the Centennial Authority. The Hurricanes receive the majority of the revenue from the naming rights deal and face no restrictions in how they use the money.
The arena, located next to NC State football’s Carter-Finley Stadium, is undergoing the first phase of a $300-million renovation, including adding a view bar to the third level and new suites to the arena level. The projects won’t be complete before the hockey and basketball seasons begin.
The Hurricanes have rights to develop up to $80 acres around the arena in a separate development deal. The first development projects are expected to begin this winter.
NC State is seeking a naming rights sponsor for Carter-Finley Stadium.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- As the government shutdown enters its second day, local organizations that receive federal funding are sounding the alarm about possible impacts for Triangle residents.That includes the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, which is already navigating the increased demand that's taken place amid federal cuts to SNAP, as well as losses of some of their funding."We're uncertain about so much for the future and we try to continue to plan for all uncertainties. But it's really tough right now...
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- As the government shutdown enters its second day, local organizations that receive federal funding are sounding the alarm about possible impacts for Triangle residents.
That includes the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, which is already navigating the increased demand that's taken place amid federal cuts to SNAP, as well as losses of some of their funding.
"We're uncertain about so much for the future and we try to continue to plan for all uncertainties. But it's really tough right now," said Amy Beros, CEO of the food bank.
Beros says the announced cuts to SNAP took place at a time there was already increased need for their services across the Triangle and beyond.
"Two years ago, there were 450,000 people facing food insecurity in our 34 counties. Today there's more than 600,000. And we know that that number is even low because of the increase that people are seeing month over month through the pantries that we work with," she said.
When the government shut down for the last time in 2018, that lasted a record 35 days, many of the tens of thousands of federal workers across North Carolina turned to food pantries for help while they were living without a paycheck. That's an increase organizations like the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina are now bracing for, on top of the new demand caused by SNAP cuts.
"It's at a time when we've seen our food supplies reduced from the federal government. We've seen our funding from federal and state level reduced. So we are already planning for a deficit and at the same time, our need continues to increase," Beros said.
Beros said if there's a longer-term shutdown, they'll need to lean more on community generosity for help, but it's going to be a struggle.
"It means that our food and hunger crisis continues to spiral and the ripple effects of that are huge. Even if you aren't somebody facing hunger, you're touched by hunger in our communities because these are our neighbors," Beros said.
NC State men's basketball has built hype all throughout the offseason with the hiring of Wil Wade, but it has reached a fever pitch with the first sellout for a season opener since the Lenovo Center was opened in 1999.RALEIGH, N.C. -- The 2025-26 season for NC State men's basketball opens in exactly one month against NC Central on Nov. 3. Will Wade will coach his first game inside the Lenovo Center where history will be made in front of a sold-out crowd. That will mark the first time since Nov. 19, 1999 that the Wol...
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The 2025-26 season for NC State men's basketball opens in exactly one month against NC Central on Nov. 3. Will Wade will coach his first game inside the Lenovo Center where history will be made in front of a sold-out crowd. That will mark the first time since Nov. 19, 1999 that the Wolfpack's season opener will be sold out.
That's a remarkable accomplishment for the Pack, especially considering that ACC Championship and Final Four banners were hung in the season opener just last year. But that's the power of the Wade hire as the NC State fan base continues to go all in on men's basketball this offseason.
NC State's matchup against Georgia on Nov. 19, 1999 marked the first and only season opener to be sold out inside the Lenovo Center prior to the Nov. 3 matchup with the Eagles. Herb Sendek led the Wolfpack to a 67-63 win over the Bulldogs to open the building, but the 19,5000-seat arena has not been filled for a season opener since.
The name was then the Entertainment Sports Arena -- or ESA, for short -- and has changed named to the RBC Center, PNC Arena and now Lenovo Center since that point. In the second year of the Lenovo partnership, the Wolfpack has a product that has fans in a frenzy with 2,000 additional season tickets sold, pushing the mark over 10,000 already for the season.
But the excitement being generated in Raleigh is about so much more than just the Wade hiring, it's about the program and the product expected to hit the court. With a roster that includes key additions like Darrion Williams, Tre Holloman, Ven-Allen Lubin, Terrance Arceneaux and so many others, the Pack has the pieces to make serious noise this season.
"All of us together are a force," Wade said last month. "We're NC State, we're red. Blood's red, right? Not blue—blood's red. So RED, and then it's going to be a reckoning for the ACC and for college basketball. You're gonna have to deal with this. You haven't had to deal with this because we haven't always been on the same page.
"This is about all of us tying in together, all of us being on the same page, all of us rowing in the same direction. This isn't the Will Wade Wolfpack. It's not the Boo Corrigan Wolfpack. This is all of us together. This is NC State. This is all of us working together. We've got an incredible administration, we've got incredible players, we've got a great staff, and we've got one of the best fan bases in all of college athletics.
"I think we have the best fan base in college basketball. We just haven't always been aligned and on the same tune. We're aligned now. And when we're aligned, there's nothing we can't do. There's nothing we can't do. And they're gonna see November 3—that thing's gonna be sold out."
Now that the game is officially sold out and history is set to be made, it's time to prove it. Wade and his program are ready to bring the "Red Reckoning" to the Lenovo Center.
Not a VIP subscriber to Pack Pride? Sign up nowto get access to everything R. Cory Smith, Michael Clark and the entire Pack Pride team have to offer on all things NC State and access to the No. 1 site covering the Wolfpack.
Sign up for FREE text alerts to get breaking news on commitments, decommitments, transfers, injuries, coaching changes and much more with our NEW text alert system available to all registered users and VIP subscribers. Click Here to become a FREE registered user and Click Here if you are already a VIP subscriber.
Want the latest news on NC State delivered right to your email? Subscribe to the Pack Pride newsletter here. It is free and a great way to get daily updates on NC State football, basketball, baseball, recruiting and more delivered straight to your inbox.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- NC State football plays its lone home game in October on Saturday afternoon against Campbell, with the Wolfpack looking to bounce back from two tough losses in ACC play. State needs a comfortable win as it prepares for a gauntlet of a schedule on the back half starting next week against Notre Dame.
Here's how our staff sees the game going down.
Michael Clark
It's been a brutally disappointing few weeks for NC State. However, Campbell is far and away the weakest opponent on the Wolfpack's schedule.
Last month, East Carolina - a common opponent - dismantled Campbell, 56-3. The Pack routes the Camels behind multiple touchdowns on offense and the defense finally generating some takeaways.
Final Prediction: NC State 48, Campbell 7
Charlie Gribble
It's a new week for NC State football and what comes with that is a new opportunity as the Campbell Fighting Camels come into Carter-Finley Stadium. After having a week to digest, it's hard to wrap your head around the performance from the Pack against the Hokies. Given the circumstances surrounding the VT program, it's comfortable to say it is the worst loss of the Dave Doeren era.
It'll be a true testament to see how NC State comes out against a vastly inferior opponent in Campbell. Regardless of what's to come after this season, it'll take Dave Doeren's best coaching job to keep this team together as the Wolfpack close in on what is a brutal stretch of league games next week.
I've got the Wolfpack getting back on track against the Camels and covering.
Final Prediction: NC State 55, Campbell 10
Spencer Thomas
After dropping two straight to Duke and VT, the Wolfpack are looking to get back in the win column before a big trip on the road next week. CJ Bailey looked like the CJ fans know and love, connecting on 26 of 34 passes for 240 yards. The caveat to this was Hollywood Smothers being shut down early, limiting the Wolfpack to being a one-dimensional team. I expect the Wolfpack to establish that run game early with the help of Duke Scott as well to make the team whole again.
The NC State defense will have to keep the Camels' QB Kamden Sixkiller on his toes early because they are a throw-first type of offense. Sabastian Harsh and Brandon Cleveland should add to the number of times Sixkiller has been sacked this season (11). By shutting down the throwing game, the Wolfpack will be in the driver's seat to take this one over and send NC State fans happy. I expect the Wolfpack to win this one 35-7, thanks to a dominant performance by CJ Bailey and the shutdown aspect of the defense.
Final Prediction: NC State 35, Campbell 7
Chris Ragone
NC State welcomes the Campbell Camels to Carter-Finley on Saturday, and not a moment too soon. The Pack have lost two straight, and are in need of a "get-right game" in the worst way. That comes this week.
QB CJ Bailey, RB Hollywood Smothers, and the rest of the offense should find this week quite a bit easier than the previous two. On the other side of the ball, an underpowered opponent will allow a defense, that is sporting some fresh faces, a chance to get some game experience and develop some additional confidence.
The Pack rolls from the opening kick...
Final Prediction: NC State 48 Campbell 10
Aron Disher
NC State can't possibly stumble in this one, right? Well, many of us felt the same way last week—and we all saw how that turned out. Over the past two weeks, it feels like nothing but negative energy has surrounded this football program. This matchup against Campbell presents the perfect opportunity to reset, get back on track, and re-energize the fan base.
Facing a mid-major always carries some risk because the fallout of actually losing would be disastrous. Still, these games also give you a chance to show what you're capable of—or in NC State's case, get back to the basics and play clean, disciplined football. Honestly, this game couldn't come at a better time for the Pack. It's the ideal chance to regroup.
As for the actual prediction, as I already said, I expect the Wolfpack to use this game to rediscover their identity and lean into what they know works best. If they do, the Pack should have no trouble putting up lots of points on Campbell's defense. That being said, if NC State doesn't walk away winning by multiple touchdowns, the game may feel like a loss in the eyes of many fans.
Final Prediction: NC State 51, Campbell 17
Cory Smith
When this game was announced years ago, most scoffed at the fact that NC State would even play against Campbell. Years later, the Camels are in a bad place at 1-4 overall with a 50-plus point loss to ECU and allowing an average of 41 points per game despite not playing a single Power Four team this year.
This should be a slaughter for the Wolfpack, and it could be even more lopsided than I'm predicting if the defense is able to force turnovers. This game will be about getting out to a hot start and reestablishing dominance in the trenches before allowing younger players snaps late to pull out a comfortable win.
Final Prediction: NC State 41, Campbell 10
A 123-acre data center could soon rise along East John Street in Matthews, but many residents aren’t convinced it belongs there.At a packed community meeting Thursday night, developers with Project Accelerate fielded dozens of questions about water use, energy demand, noise and taxes. While the team promised the project would bring the town millions in tax revenue and operate under strict limits, most residents who spoke opposed it, raising concerns about safety, costs and how the project could change Matthews.“We d...
A 123-acre data center could soon rise along East John Street in Matthews, but many residents aren’t convinced it belongs there.
At a packed community meeting Thursday night, developers with Project Accelerate fielded dozens of questions about water use, energy demand, noise and taxes. While the team promised the project would bring the town millions in tax revenue and operate under strict limits, most residents who spoke opposed it, raising concerns about safety, costs and how the project could change Matthews.
“We don’t need this,” one longtime resident told the crowd. “We have to ask ourselves, can we build a data center on this lot? Sure. Is that what we want? I don’t think so.”
Here are six things to know about the proposed Matthews data center:
Some nearby residents fear the project would tower over their backyards.
“It’s 80 feet in the air,” one man said. “You’ll be able to see that from a long distance.”
The project site covers 123 acres on East John Street, bordered by Interstate 485 and a rail line, near an existing Duke Energy substation, said Drew Nations, CEO of Engineered Land Solutions, the developer of the proposed project.
Developers are pitching five buildings for the site, each described as two stories tall but capped at 80 feet, shorter than the 120-foot power towers already standing nearby. Their plan shows 80-foot setbacks and 40-foot tree buffers, along with a multi-use path along East John Street. Right now the land is zoned for residential use and could hold around 300 homes if built that way. Instead, the team is asking Matthews to rezone it for industrial use, with parameters specific to the data center.
The development team emphasized its closed-loop cooling system before questions even began, calling it “a responsible, cutting-edge way” to run a data center.
The system would be filled once, then recirculated, with daily water needs limited to uses like bathrooms and landscaping, Nations said.
But some residents weren’t convinced. One woman argued that as equipment is replaced and expanded, the facility “is going to keep drawing more water,” despite promises otherwise. Others pressed about potential leaks, runoff and the chemicals used to keep water clean. Developers responded that detection mechanisms, shut-off valves and staff on site 24/7 would limit risks.
Several residents said their top concern was increased electricity bills as a result of the large center.
The developers said the project would require about 600 megawatts, which one resident called “massive.” Nations said developers would pay for all substation upgrades themselves, with no costs passed to Duke Energy customers.
“Whether we turn the lights on or off, we’re paying for that power,” Nations said. “That’s part of our rate structure.”
Nations pointed to Duke Energy’s recently published n, which projects about a 2.1% annual increase in customer rates regardless of whether the Matthews project is built.
Nations also said Duke Energy requires a 17% reserve margin, meaning it must generate more power than it distributes to ensure reliability and prevent outages.
So far, no one. The developers told the crowd they won’t announce an end user until after rezoning is decided, leaving some residents uneasy. Seeing logos of Apple, Meta and Wells Fargo on presentation slides, one resident, Danielle Frain Benham, asked if the project’s mission was simply to “make these conglomerates even bigger.”
The team replied the examples were meant to illustrate industries like banking, health care, and streaming, that rely on digital infrastructure. They said the rezoning must come first before a tenant signs on.
“We all have cell phones in our pockets right now. We’re all participating in this digital economy, whether it’s work, streaming, or education,” Nations said.
Noise may prove the hardest sell. Consultants acknowledged parts of the site already exceed Matthews’ 60-decibel limit because of nearby interstate traffic, wind and train horns. They said the campus would use barriers, enclosures and building placement to stay under the town’s threshold at all hours.
But some neighbors dismissed the assurances.
“Sixty dB – I’m going to have to try to sleep with that,” one said.
Another likened the hum to a bell ringing constantly: “You’d get used to it, but it would destroy much of the environment we live in today.”
Nothing has been approved by the town yet. Developers held another community meeting in July, followed by a September public hearing. Another community meeting is scheduled for Oct. 9 and a public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 13.
336-654-5001
