Press Releases May 21, 2024

Charlotte Hornets Break Ground on Transformational Renovations to Spectrum Center

The renovations are poised to elevate the Hornets into a premier franchise within the NBA, transforming the arena into a world-class entertainment and sports venue.

CHARLOTTE—Hornets Sports & Entertainment officially kicked off the start of renovations to the Spectrum Center during a special groundbreaking event on May 20th. Members of the City of Charlotte, Hornets Sports & Entertainment, and Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) were in attendance to commemorate this exciting new chapter for the Buzz City. The renovations will reimagine the almost 20-year-old building, maintaining it as a world-class facility and offering more premiere experiences for staff, athletes, and fans. Global architecture and design firm, Perkins&Will, is leading the design of the renovations through a team of designers from our Denver and North Carolina studios.

The project, which includes a range of significant highly visible and back-of-house upgrades, will take place during the two upcoming NBA off seasons, with plans to have a fully reimagined Spectrum Center heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.

“Celebrating the intersection of community, sports, and entertainment, our local team is thrilled to have collaborated on the transformative renovations of RE!magine Spectrum Center,” said Irene Vogelsong, Managing Principal of Interiors, “Infusing each corner with a bespoke blend of local perspective and essence, we’ve crafted spaces that resonate with authenticity and elevate every experience.”

RE!magine Highlights

RE!magine Spectrum Center meets the evolving needs of all arena stakeholders, starting with guests and including the building’s primary tenants – the Charlotte Hornets – as well as major music tours, family shows, and other globally recognized events, such as the Democratic National Convention or the NBA All-Star Game, which the building hosted in 2012 and 2019, respectively.

The renovations completed in Phase 1 will focus on modifications to better support traffic flow in the concourse, including the addition of a fourth vomitory in the lower level, wider corridors, and entrance alterations. More gathering spaces for fans with increased visibility into the bowl will also be added, elevating the overall guest experience. The Uptown Concourse will receive a facelift with improvements to lighting, signage, and concession locations. The Dr. Pepper Pavilion and The Nest fan section will be redesigned, offering new amenities for some of the Hornets’ most passionate fans. Renovations to various club and hospitality spaces will span the length of the renovation project, with the entire Suite Level being renovated, Event Level Clubs being moved, and a Courtside Club being added in Phase 1. In addition to public facing areas, the arena’s back-of-house spaces will see significant changes to better support team, promoter, crew, and entertainer needs – helping set Spectrum Center up for long-term success.

Perkins&Will has worked with local architects, Neighboring Concepts, to develop the design. Construction is being led by Turner Construction and D.A. Everette. Phase 1 is set to conclude in October, with Phase 2 beginning next May following the 2024-25 NBA season.

Charlotte Hornets Break Ground on Transformational Renovations to Spectrum Center

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