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Today’s Weather

66º | 0% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:30 a.m. | Sunset 6:47 p.m.
Full Weather Report | Traffic Report
 

A Message From Our Team
Please join us in supporting recovery efforts for our neighbors in Western NC. Our hearts are heavy for our friends, family, and team members affected by the destruction of Hurricane Helene and its aftermath. 100% of donations will be sent to BeLoved Asheville, supporting food and water distribution, clothing and supply deliveries, and debris cleanup across the region. Donate now.
 

🏀 These renderings will get you buzzing

Renderings released for Hornets’ new practice facility
A group of people on a stage with shovels.
It was all smiles as construction kicked off for the Hornets’ new practice facility. | Photo by CLTtoday
It’s a slam dunk for Buzz City. The Charlotte Hornets released new renderings for its state-of-the-art practice facility. A groundbreaking is expected by early 2025.

“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.

A rendering of four people playing basketball on an indoor court with a person watching on the sideline.

The Charlotte Hornets Performance Center is expected to have 100,000+ sqft of training, practice, and recovery space.

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Rendering via Charlotte Hornets

Adjacent to the Spectrum Center, the Charlotte Hornets Performance Center will boast more than 160,000 sqft for practice, training, retail, and administrative space. The building is also expected to have a public plaza on the corner of Caldwell and 5th streets.

“The Charlotte Hornets are an important part of Charlotte’s entertainment and economic ecosystem, and this is a great opportunity for the Hornets to expand their presence and support their players with a world-class facility,” said Charlotte City Manager Tracy Dodson.

In March, the City of Charlotte approved the decision to provide $30 million to the project + the Hornets will pay exceeding costs and own the new practice facility. The deal was part of a larger agreement that keeps the team in Charlotte through at least 2045.

An aerial rendering of a rectangular building with near-rooftop access and three floors of accessible space.

The new performance center will have up to 25,000 sqft of ground-level retail, a public plaza, and 35,000 sqft dedicated to the team’s business operations.

Sports fans across the Queen City will no longer be strangers to these types of upgrades. In addition to this announcement, the Carolina Panthers will get a revamped practice facility + upgrades to Bank of America Stadium in the coming years.

The Hornets’ new facility is expected to be open for the 2026-27 NBA season. As for this season’s home opener, mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 26. The Hornets will face the Miami Heat at the Spectrum Center.
 
Events
Tuesday, Oct. 15
  • Helene Donation Drop-Off | Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Mattress Firm, South Boulevard | Free | The mattress store is serving as a donation drop-off site for Red Cross donations through October.
  • Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert | Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 7:30 p.m. | Belk Theatre | $29+ | Experience the soundtrack of the beloved animated series performed by a live orchestra.
Wednesday, Oct. 16
  • WNC Donations and Dine Out Night | Wednesday, Oct. 16 | 5-10 p.m. | Customshop | Cost of purchase | Savor a delicious meal + the restaurant will donate 25% of all sales to BeLoved Asheville.
  • South End Book Club: “The Thursday Murder Club” | Wednesday, Oct. 16 | 6-7 p.m. | Krispy Kreme Doughnut Window & Vending Machine | Free | Discuss the murder mystery over fresh donuts in the heart of South End.
  • The Contenders | Wednesday, Oct. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Stage Door Theater | $25+ | Experience “A Little Love” as the band performs + a portion of ticket and merchandise sales go to hurricane relief in WNC.
Thursday, Oct. 17
Click here to have your event featured.
 
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Travel
 

Travel easy (and cheap) with this homeswap members’ club
Three photos of different homes: One with cozy wooden features and lots of green plants; another clean and modern apartment with fresh furnishings; another mountain home with warm woods and beautiful mountain views.
Swiftstay members can stay in driving-distance Southeastern cities (think: one-five hours away) and get access to professional cleaning services, plus bed linens, towels + toiletries. | Photos provided by Swiftstay members
Ever wanted to be Cameron Diaz or Kate Winslet in “The Holiday?” You know: share homes, be a local in another city, fall in love with a stranger...

Swiftstay makes that possible — with the caveat that it’s not a 1:1 swap, but a home-sharing community among vetted members in driving-distance cities (ok, and the love part... you’re on your own there).

Join Swiftstay to share your apartment, condo, townhome, or house + only pay the flat rate $150 cleaning fee (yep, that’s it).
 
News Notes
Cause
  • Want to donate to Helene relief efforts? There’s a dashboard to show what supplies are most needed in WNC, thanks to two Charlotte women. Heather Oberg and Nicole Schoychid created “Supporting WNC,” a site that lists all needed supplies + donation centers to visit. (WCNC)
Regional
  • Industry officials remain hopeful regarding North Carolina’s Christmas trees. Farms in the mountain suffered flood damage from Helene. NC has at least 1,300 farmers growing Fraser firs, which account for about 20% of trees sold in the country. (The Charlotte Observer)
Civic
  • The City of Charlotte voted in favor of a public-private plan to build express lanes on I-77 heading into South Carolina. The lanes would cost more than $3.7 billion. NCDOT said it cannot afford to pay more than $600 million. The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization will discuss the matter on Wednesday. (WCNC)
Development
  • Statesville City Council voted to approve a 1,400-home development. Fort Mill-based BRD Land & Investment requested 602 acres between Nabors and Shiloh roads for single-family homes and townhomes. A construction timeline remains TBA. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Coming Soon
  • Nana Morrison’s Soul Food will open its third location in Indian Land. The restaurant is under construction at RedStone, a mixed-use development, at SC Highway 160. An opening date is TBA. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Environment
  • Spruce up your yard. Registration is open for TreesCharlotte’s tree adoption event. Anyone living is Charlote may get two free trees, two bags of mulch, and a tree planting demonstration. The event will be Saturday, Oct. 19, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Try This
  • Look on the bright side. Two comets could be visible from low-lit areas in Charlotte. Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, also known as Comet C/2023 A3, will be at its brightest for a week or two after this past Saturday. The second comet, C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) will pass closest to Earth on Thursday, Oct. 24. (WCNC)
Sports
  • Will Hornets center Mark Williams return to the court for the preseason following his recent injury? Go beyond the hardwood for the biggest stories on the Charlotte Hornets with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
    Seasonal
    • Looking to boost your brand’s visibility? Our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide is the perfect place to showcase your gift-worthy products. With thousands of engaged readers, you will be seen by the right audience just in time for holiday shopping. Get in the guide.
    Job
    • We’re looking for a Sales Executive to identify and secure new advertising partnerships and grow existing client relationships on the CLTtoday team. Apply to join.
     
    Try This

    🍿 Is that fresh popcorn we smell?

    Charlotte nonprofit provides video rentals for movie nights
    A beige building with big red letters that read "Visart Video".
    VisArt Video boasts 50,000 titles of VHS and Blu-ray films in its space, plus a cafe, outdoor seating, and screening room. | Photo by CLTtoday
    Grab the popcorn and blanket. VisArt Video & Cafe is getting you ready for your next movie night. The east Charlotte nonprofit boasts a collection of 50,000 titles — the largest film and video collection on the East Coast.

    City Editor Maria, here. This shop at 3102 Eastway Dr. provokes major nostalgia for anyone who frequented a Blockbuster or Hollywood Video. Immediately, you’re greeted with shelves upon shelves of movies, all organized by genre.

    In a streaming world, the store is thriving because of its content.

    “We operate a little bit like a library, a little bit like a museum, a little bit like an education facility,” explained Visart Executive Director Gina Stewart. “By the time you get about four steps in, you’re going to have 10 things in your hand that look interesting.”

    So, consider visiting this not-so-hidden gem for your next movie night. Rentals are $5.
    What's in stock?
    Asked
     

    Which of these films was not shot in North Carolina?
    A. Hunger Games
    B. Last of the Mohicans
    C. Fly Away Home
    D. The Eyes of Tammy Faye
     
    The Buy
     
    A coffin letter board — perfect for writing out “Let’s go ghouls,” “Witch, please,” or whatever Halloween pun you love at your next October party.
     
    6AM City In-house
     
    The Wrap
     
    Headshot of CLTtoday author Maria Delgado

    Today’s edition by:
    Maria
    From the editor
    Over the weekend, City Editor Jack and I visited Ever Andalo for brunch and it was absolutely delicious. Just wanted to give a big “thank you” to the team for having us. Be on the lookout for a video on what we tried, coming soon.
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