Charlotte Hornets Chose Turner/Everett Group for $250 million arena refurbishment
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Executive vice president of Hornets Sports & Entertainment and general manager of the Spectrum Center Donna Kulian stated in a statement that the renovation “touches nearly aspect of the arena.” The arena was first inaugurated in 2005, and repairs are expected to be made for the period of the following two off-seasons, beginning in May.
In order to optimize the flow of visitors through the facility, work on enlarging corridors, installing a new entrance/exit, and modifying others is scheduled for this year. Redesigns of the spectator sections and upgrades to the concourse’s lighting and food placements are planned. The whole suite level will be refurbished, and event-level clubs will be moved and given a new club area.
In 2025, the team intends for upgrades to the main concourse, to add 2,500 lower-level seats and replace seats around the bowl. The “founders level” is also expected to be refurbished then, and plans include alterations to back-of-house rooms.
The renovations were designed by Perkins & Will. The firm’s goal, according to senior project manager and associate principal Joe Dyer, is to maintain the Spectrum Center’s competitiveness as a location for major events it has hosted the Democratic National Convention and the NBA All-Star Game in the past while simultaneously honoring Charlotte.
“We wanted to improve everything that affects the fan experience, including operations, service, and sustainability,” Dyer stated.
Hornets Sports & Entertainment is the operator of the arena, which is owned by the city. As part of a bigger agreement with the franchise, Charlotte municipal officials authorized $215 million for arena enhancements in 2022. In addition, a $60 million new training facility for the Hornets and an extension of the team’s arena lease until 2025 were included.