Healthcare System to Open New Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic for Community as Part of the Project

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 25, 2025 – The Charlotte Hornets and Novant Health, the team’s official healthcare provider, today announced an expanded multi-year partnership, under which Novant Health becomes the official naming rights partner for the organization’s new state-of-the-art performance center. As part of the project, Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine will open to the public a new industry-leading clinic in Uptown Charlotte.

The Novant Health Performance Center project, which is scheduled to begin construction this week, will feature more than 160,000 total square feet of space for training and performance, administrative offices, retail, orthopedic and sports medicine care once completed. It will be located across the street from Spectrum Center between N. Caldwell Street and N. Davidson Street. The Hornets will host a ceremonial groundbreaking event for the Novant Health Performance Center on Wednesday, March 26, at 9:30 a.m. The event, which will include participation from team, city and community leaders, will be live streamed on Hornets.com.  

“We’re thrilled to work with our long-time partner Novant Health and the City of Charlotte to construct the Novant Health Performance Center,” said Hornets Co-Chairmen Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin. “The Hornets and Novant Health share a passion for health and wellness and have a long-term commitment of working together to enhance our community. The Novant Health Performance Center will be home to the highest level of personalized training, health care and on-court development allowing each Hornets player to reach his maximum potential on the court.

Additionally, we expect this facility will serve as a catalyst to create a more vibrant Uptown Charlotte neighborhood surrounding Spectrum Center. As an ownership group, we are committed to investing in our franchise, our players and our community and this new facility is an important aspect of that commitment.”  

The Novant Health Performance Center will include more than 100,000 square feet dedicated to practice, training and recovery spaces for the Hornets team, providing a best-in-class NBA facility focused on all aspects of player development, health and wellness. The performance center will house two full-size basketball courts, various areas for strength and conditioning, extensive training, recovery and medical facilities which will include areas for physical therapy, hydrotherapy, nutrition, sports science and more. Additionally, the Novant Health Performance Center will also be home to the team’s business operations and administrative offices, housing more than 250 team members that support the franchise.

“We are proud to partner with Novant Health, an organization that shares our commitment to incorporating innovation, cutting-edge technology and research to provide the best care possible for our players and our community,” said Hornets President of Business Operations Shelly Cayette-Weston. “We are striving together for a level of unmatched excellence that includes world-class facilities and world-class care.”

Novant Health and the Hornets are working together to institute a truly holistic approach to player health and wellness. With direct access to Novant Health’s top-rated physicians, medical experts and sports scientists, the Hornets are utilizing research, data, scientific learnings and proven health and wellness techniques to develop individualized player care programs. The goal of each program is to maximize player health by reducing injuries, decreasing recovery time and improving performance. These programs incorporate various disciplines including strength training, elasticity, nutrition, mental health, sleep and more. Novant Health physicians – Dr. James Romanowski and Dr. Joe Garcia – serve as the official Hornets team physicians and orthopedic surgeons.  

“Novant Health is proud to extend its longstanding partnership with Hornets Sports and Entertainment through the naming rights to its new Novant Health Training Center,” said Dr. Sid Fletcher, senior vice president and president of Novant Health’s Charlotte region. “We know that the Hornets’ dedication to excellence extends far beyond the court. Just as we work daily to build a healthier future for the communities we serve by delivering remarkable care, the Hornets are committed to strengthening the wellness of Charlotte. This new training center is another step toward collectively deepening our impact in our own backyard by helping people thrive.”

The Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic, located within the Novant Health Performance Center, will be open to the public and provide the Charlotte community with remarkable world-class patient-centered orthopedic care right in the heart of the city.

Current renderings and the latest news and updates can be viewed at hornets.com/performancecenter.

The Hornets and Novant Health have a long-standing relationship dating back to when the NBA team returned to Charlotte. A key component of this partnership has been uplifting the Charlotte community as the two organizations have teamed to focus on various community initiatives throughout the years, including the Charlotte Hornets Foundation supporting the Novant Health Community Care Cruiser, the franchise’s annual Military Care packing event, the “Buzz City Babies” program, player visits to Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital and more. Novant Health is currently the naming rights holder to the team’s practice facility and recently renovated Suite Level within Spectrum Center and has the naming rights to the Novant Health Fieldhouse, the home of the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate.  

The Novant Health Performance Center is expected to open during the 2026-27 NBA season.