The time has officially begun to Re!magine Spectrum Center!

 

Work is underway on the two-year renovation project that will include a wide variety of changes throughout the building, and on Monday at Spectrum Center, it was time to celebrate the official Re!magine Spectrum Center Tipoff.

 

“This building is truly special to each and every person that walks through its doors, and I'm so excited for the future that Re!magine Spectrum Center will deliver,” Hornets Executive Vice President and Spectrum Center General Manager Donna Julian said. “The renovations we will make over the next two years will allow us to draw even more top-tier events and have an even greater impact on our community by bringing more guests uptown to Uptown Charlotte.”

 

Members of Hornets Sports & Entertainment’s ownership group, as well as HSE executives and staff packed Spectrum Center’s Trade Street Plaza along with representatives from the City of Charlotte, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), Turner/DA Everett, Perkins + Will, CAA Icon and Levy as the groups took a look back at the collaborative effort that led up to this point and talked about the excitement for the work ahead.

 

“We are committed to this investment in top-notch sports and entertainment facilities,” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said. “We know that is the way to generate economic growth, create new jobs and really put us on the map as we talk about ourselves as a premier destination for major events and attractions.”

 

Now entering its 19^th year in the City of Charlotte, Spectrum Center has welcomed more than 20 million visitors, not only from Charlotte and its surrounding areas in the Carolinas, but from a national and global audience as well. Whether it’s a Hornets game, your favorite concert, a family event, the NCAA Basketball Tournament, the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the 2019 NBA All-Star Game and more, Spectrum Center has something for everyone. These renovations will only enhance and increase those experiences.

 

“Spectrum Center has long been a cornerstone for our community, driving economic impact and supporting many of our hospitality businesses and jobs,” CRVA Chief Executive Officer Steve Bagwell said. “The Re!magine Spectrum Center project will ensure that it remains a premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas for many years to come.”

 

After addressing the crowd at the Re!magine Spectrum Center Tipoff event. Members of the HSE Ownership Group, the City of Charlotte and the CRVA put on their hard hats, grabbed a sledgehammer and commemorated the moment by collectively breaking down a Re!magine wall outside on the plaza. Following the program, people in attendance were also asked to sign a commemorative metal beam that signaled the official start of Re!magine Spectrum Center.

 

“We may be knocking things down here beginning today, but brick-by-brick we plan to build the Hornets into an elite organization. We look forward to the future of our team, our arena and our city center,” said HSE Co-Chairman and Alternate Governor Gabe Plotkin. “While we’ve only been here a short time with (HSE Co-Chairman and Governor) Rick (Schnall), myself and the ownership group, there’s one thing we quickly learned – Charlotte is an amazing city filled with incredible people, and we are truly blessed to lead this franchise. We’ve also learned the important role that Spectrum Center has played in this community by bringing people together and creating lifelong memories.

 

“We know how much this building means to our community, and we are proud to invest in Spectrum Center to continue bringing the best events in sports and entertainment to Charlotte and the Carolinas. We are confident that this important project will have a tremendous impact on our collective future for years to come.”

 

The work won’t be easy and we’ll miss you for a few months, but it won’t be long until the doors open back up on Oct. 2, 2024 when Aerosmith comes to Charlotte. Want to get the latest updates, too? Makes sure to bookmark https://www.nba.com/hornets/reimagine to get all the latest on Spectrum Center’s renovations.

 

“We take our responsibility as stewards of Spectrum Center very seriously - we're proud to call it our home,” Julian said. “And while our doors are closing temporarily, we are full of anticipation to unveil the first phase of Re!magine Spectrum Center when we reopen our doors in October. We are so glad to have each of you here and thank you for coming on the journey with us!”