Spectrum Center’s $245M Renovation, Vision Of The Future In Charlotte

The Spectrum Center – the Charlotte home of the NBA Hornets – experienced the rebound of the year with a milestone $245 million renovation.

The grand reopening of the revitalized arena was held Oct. 21, the same date the venue opened 20 years ago at a cost of $265 million in 2005.

“The 20^th anniversary is a milestone that reflects the evolution of the Spectrum Center and the growth of our city,” said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles during the ribbon cutting. “This building has been the backdrop for unforgettable concerts, championship games, community celebrations and personal memories that most of us have had. One of the things I’ll never forget is sitting next to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver when we hosted the NBA All-Star Weekend in 2019. This moment today is part joy, part community-centered and is part of what makes Charlotte so special.”

Since it opened, Spectrum Center has welcomed roughly 24 million guests for 2,500 different events, ranging from NBA games and the All-Star Weekend to concerts, NCAA and ACC tournaments and the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

“As many have heard us say, we have a very clear vision for our franchise and arena,” said Rick Schnall, Hornets Co-Chairman at the unveiling in October. “It’s to be the premier franchise in the NBA and a premier concert and sports venue, one that we can be proud of for all the Carolinas and that’s on par with other great arenas around the United States. We have to have premier facilities and we’re starting that here. We’re so proud of what we’ve created.”

Spectrum Center reintroduced itself with a power-packed lineup coming off back-to-back Billie Eilish shows followed by Stevie Nicks, Hornets’ opening night, Tate McRae, Lainey Wilson and NBA YoungBoy all within one week.

The court-to-ceiling renovation took place in two phases touching every facet of the venue from seating and concourse design to hospitality and back-of-house infrastructure.

“The completion of this renovation represents a significant milestone for Spectrum Center, the City of Charlotte, all of our incredible project partners and most importantly, our community,” says Donna Julian, Hornets Sports and Entertainment (HSE) Chief Venues Officer. “This incredible transformation reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering a world-class experience for every guest, partner and performer who enters Spectrum Center.”

The renovation project was completed over the past two NBA off-seasons with architect Perkins&Will, construction companies Turner and D.A. Everett, consultant CAA Icon and concessions partner Levy.

“This has been all of us talking about the vision of making sure we’re creating a great experience for our fans,” adds Julian. “That’s been the focal point from day one and I’m really proud that we’re going to be able to deliver what we promised. …We know this building is a community asset and we want people to feel really proud about it.”

Guests will experience the upgrades from arrival to departure. The renovations include the integration of frictionless technology for faster entry and transactions, as well as a comprehensive upgrade of food, beverage and hospitality services throughout the venue.

Guests will have access to new, branded gathering spaces on every floor, expanded menu and bar offerings and an increased number of grab-and-go markets. The Hornets and Levy have swapped a large portion of Spectrum Center’s concessions menus to introduce a food and beverage experience curated around the flavor of Charlotte and the Carolinas.

The recent round of upgrades include seating and bowl enhancements with 1,400 new lower-level seats, a welcome addition for NBA fans seeking closer access to the floor, and new seating throughout the bowl.

“That’s impacting all of our fans,” says Julian. “Everyone is going to be getting a new seat.”

The Belk Concourse refresh includes modern finishes and new signage, wayfinding, lighting and flooring. A new 225-foot-long LED board was installed in the main lobby. Additional restrooms were added and all existing restrooms were refreshed. A new Novant Health Parents Room and Sensory Room were built to help ensure all guests’ needs are met.

Designers listened to feedback from fans who wanted access to more hospitality options. New gather spaces were introduced with The Lunazul North District and The South District, each with its own distinct personality and culinary options as well as a full-service 360-degree wraparound bars. The new Baseline Bar on the east side of the arena features a fully open “Super Vom” design, offering clear sightlines into the bowl and guest access to F&B. The new 704 Kitchen concept will rotate a local restaurant each month, providing fans with a variety of Charlotte’s favorite food options.

Premium spaces on the Founders Level were modernized and rebuilt from scratch to create a more upscale experience. Seven additional Founders Level suites were constructed.

The exterior received a refresh with a new Trade Street Plaza LED sign (50’ wide x 13.5’ high) as well as improved exterior wayfinding signage.

Additional improvements that were introduced last year include the Novant Health Suite Level, which features five distinct suite types accommodating groups from two to 130 guests. In addition to 28 standard suites, Spectrum Center offers four “Party Suites,” 13 mini suites, one super suite and the First Horizon Bank Theater Box – offering a range of price points.

“We wanted to make sure we diversified the product,” explains Julian. “We feel that answers the needs of the community. Maybe some people want a suite. Maybe they want to just buy into a theater box. So, we opened that diversified lineup, which has been extremely successful.”

As part of the design, guests have been given increased access to club amenities with the relocation and upgrades to two existing clubs – the Inner Circle Club and the Bank of America Hardwood Club – and the introduction of the recently renamed HondaJet Courtside Club. 

Upgrades to the Uptown Concourse include improved lighting, signage and concession locations. The Dr Pepper Pavilion was redesigned to offer new amenities tailored to some of the Hornets’ most passionate supporters.

To improve pedestrian traffic a fourth vomitory was added in the lower level, corridors were widened and entrances were reconfigured to streamline movement and accessibility. The Belk Light Rail Entrance was added and a special VIP corridor at the Trade Street Entrance provides direct access to the Event Level.

In addition to public-facing improvements, the renovation included substantial upgrades to the sound system, security, technology and back-of-house areas. These enhancements support the needs of teams, promoters, production crews and entertainers.

“I think it just keeps us competitive,” offers Julian. “We consider ourselves the premier destination of entertainment and sports for the Carolinas. And I think these enhancements were what we needed to do to continue to be competitive.”