CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – It’s official: The Charlotte Hornets are getting a new performance center.
The project, approved by Charlotte city council in March, was announced on Oct. 14. Construction will begin in early 2025 and is expected to be open for the 2026-2027 NBA season.
[Charlotte Hornets unveil plans, renderings for renovated Spectrum Center]
The Re!magine Spectrum Center Project will be a 160,000-square-foot space next to the current Spectrum Center. The bulk of the space – about 100,000 square feet – will be dedicated to training, practice and recovery for the Charlotte Hornets. About 35,000 square feet will be used for the team’s administration and the remaining 2,500 square feet will include retail space at the ground level. Outside, there will be a public plaza at Caldwell and Fifth streets.
Re!magine Spectrum Center’s proposed exterior with plaza at Caldwell and Fifth streets.(Charlotte Hornets)
“Following the first phase of our Re!magine Spectrum Center project, the new performance center is the next step as we work toward our vision of building the premier franchise in the NBA and operating world-class facilities,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment Co-Chairmen Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin in a press release.
City council agreed to pay for $30 million of the costs and the rest will be handled by the Hornets, according to team leaders. The deal, they said, is part of the agreement to keep the Hornets in town for the next 25 years at least.
Re!magine Spectrum Center training facility(Charlotte Hornets)
The team was founded in 1988, making it the Carolinas’ first professional sports team. Since then, the Spectrum Center has been said to bring in an estimated 1.2 million visitors each year.
[Documents: City of Charlotte, Panthers could have new stadium built by 2046]
CAA ICON, Populous, Gilbane Building Company, and R.J. Leeper Construction — one of Charlotte’s largest Black-owned companies — will handle the particulars of bringing the Re!magine Spectrum Center to life.
To learn more about the Charlotte Hornets, their current facilities, or the Re!magine Spectrum Center, visit hornets.com.
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