The team drew more than 23,000 fans to games in Durham and produced nearly 9,000 room nights during its first season, Durham Sports Commission Executive Director Marcus Manning said.
"We almost had close to 9,000 room nights and over 23,000 people attended our games here in Durham," Manning said.
The season was a significant boost for Durham, which Manning said is the only city on the East Coast with a women's professional softball team.
"It gives young girls something to root for, something to dream for," Manning said.
Local youth softball leaders say the Blaze's presence is helping increase participation and visibility for the sport. Kelsey Oonk said South Durham Little League, which began with about 50 players, has seen substantial growth.
"I think we had over 200 this last spring and we have ages now from four to sixteen playing softball with us and are continuing to grow," Oonk said.
Oonk said access to a professional team helps young athletes see a future in the sport.
"They can walk into a stadium, they can see these players on TV," Oonk said. "It really just transforms what opportunities people are looking for, both in terms of youth participation, but also moving into the next level of softball."
The Carolina Blaze is expected to return to Durham in June 2027. Manning said the organization's first season demonstrated strong potential for continued growth.
"I think we're just scratching the surface," Manning said. "We know that we can grow, we can elevate. We're excited for year two with the Carolina Blaze and see what we can do in terms of economic impact, that social impact and more community engagement."
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