The Spectrum Center recently underwent four months of renovations before reopening for concerts and Hornets basketball. | Photo by CLTtoday
Spectrum Center will be buzzing when the Charlotte Hornets take the court vs. Miami in the season home opener tomorrow night.
Buzz City promises guests a new experience — from hospitality spaces and frictionless technology to a wider variety of food and drink offerings. All these upgrades are part of Re!magine Spectrum Center.
Hornets fans can anticipate faster ticket lines when arriving for home games.
Photo by CLTtoday
Heading to the home opener? Here are some key changes,
New bag policy: Small clutches, crossbodies, and wristlets that don’t exceed 5in x 7in x 1.5in are permitted.
Arena entry: General admission guests may enter through the Fifth Street, Trade Street, or the brand new Light Rail entrances.
Early doors: Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
New screening procedures: Spectrum Center now features state-of-the-art Evolv screening allowing for faster, safer, and easier entry.
“It’s something a lot of our fans talked about,” said Shelly Cayette-Weston, president of business operations with the Charlotte Hornets. “It’s been a long process getting in and out of the building. So now they can go in and not get their bags checked.”
The Hornets are encouraging fan donations and support for Helene relief efforts. On opening night, they’ll distribute 13,000 Carolina Strong T-shirts + additional shirts will be on sale for $35.
The team’s newly released tagline, Hive Mentality, will also be on full display. The first 10,000 fans at the game will receive Hive Mentality Rally Towels + a Hive Mentality marquee photo opp on the Main Concourse.
2,500 additional seats will bring more fans to be closer to game-time action. All seats throughout the bowl will be replaced.
Rendering via Charlotte Hornets.
“We’re just so thankful for our fans for their patience and for working with us to get through the first set of renovations,” said Cayette-Weston.
The arena will close again in May 2025 for phase two of renovations.
Events
Events
Friday, Oct. 25
Trick or Drink: Charlotte Halloween Bar Crawl| Friday, Oct. 25-Sunday, Oct. 27 | 6-11:59 p.m. | Bowlero | $15 | Purchase a wrist band and receive a map to Halloween drink deals happening all weekend long.
Rocky Horror Music Show | Friday, Oct. 25 | 8 p.m. | The Visulite Theatre | $20 | Do the “Timewarp” and rock out to the beloved musical in this tribute performance.
Halloween Party at Seoul Food| Friday, Oct. 25 | 9 p.m.-2 a.m. | Seoul Food Meat Company, South End | $25 | Prepare for a spooktacular night of music, food, spirits, and karaoke + prizes for the best costumes.
Saturday, Oct. 26
Running Scared 5K + Monster Mile | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Motion Fitness | $20+ | Dress up and run through SouthPark + enjoy food trucks, drinks, live, music, and face painting.
Howl-O-Ween | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 1-5 p.m. | Vaulted Oak Brewing | Cost of purchase | Strut your pooch in a dog costume contest while sipping on seasonal drinks.
Movie Night - Scream | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | $8 | Brace yourself for a spooky evening under the stars while watching the classic 90s horror film.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat |Saturday, Oct. 26 | 7 p.m. | Spectrum Center | $20+ | Grab your jersey and cheer on Buzz City in the season home opener.
Bonnie & Clyde’s Haunted Hideout Halloween Party 2024 | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 8-11:30 p.m. | Bonnie & Clyde’s Lounge | $15+ | Join a night of spine-chilling fun where the the Roaring Twenties meets the supernatural.
Sunday, Oct. 27
Sustain Charlotte’s Biketoberfest| Sunday, Oct. 27 | 12-6:30 p.m. | Triple C Brewing Company | $45 | Grab your bike and cruise protected bike lanes and greenways in this annual celebration.
85 South | Sunday, Oct. 27 | 7 p.m. | Bojangles Coliseum | $40 | Get ready for the jokes to fly when these three witty comedians take the stage.
Jelly Roll: Beautifully Broken Tour | Sunday, Oct. 27 | 7 p.m. | Spectrum Center | $40+ | The “Wild Ones” will gather to see the country artist in Charlotte.
📚 Have a novel experience at the Charleston Literary Festival
Presented by Charleston Literary Festival, Inc
Find new books to add to your shelf during the Charleston Literary Festival. | Photo provided by Charleston Literary Festival, Inc.
The 2024 Charleston Literary Festival is just one week away. From Friday, Nov. 1 to Sunday, Nov. 10, gather with other book enthusiasts at the Dock Street Theatre in Charleston to hear from:
Nikki Giovanni | Internationally-renowned poet and activist
Jayne Anne Phillips | Wrote “Night Watch” + won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Rachel Kushner | Wrote “Creation Lake” + was nominated for the 2024 Booker Prize
Colm Tóibín | Wrote “Long Island,” an Oprah’s Book Club Pick
Gov. Roy Cooper requested $3.9 billion from state lawmakers for Helene aid in western North Carolina. At $53 billion in damages, Gov. Cooper estimates Helene is the costliest natural disaster in North Carolina history. (WCNC)
Community
Chimney Rock residents face a new reality in wake of Hurricane Helene. Historic flooding left homes destroyed and businesses forced to layoff employees. Donations are being accepted. (Queen City News)
Traffic
Plan for heavy traffic around Monroe this afternoon. Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance will host a town hall at the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. As a result, the airport will be closed until 10 p.m. tonight. (WCNC)
Biz
Google is considering a potential $600 million expansion to its Caldwell County data center in Lenoir, creating 30 full-time jobs. The city and county approved performance-based incentive grants of 50% real property and 85% personal property that would be awarded over 20 years. (The Charlotte Observer)
Civic
Mooresville residents are pushing back against turning 400 acres of land into an industrial park off Patterson Farm Road and NC Highway 3. It’s owned by Teresa Earnhardt, the widow of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Town staff approved the plan but the zoning board voted it down. (WSOC)
Drink
Carolina Beer Temple plans to add a restaurant and cocktail bar in a newly purchased 6,800-sqft space at Ames Station in Matthews. The $1 million project aims to open in January. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Announced
Discovery Place Science will debut a new exhibition honoring the life and conservation work of renowned primatologist and chimpanzee expert Dr. Jane Goodall. Guests can expect an immersive experience featuring virtual chimpanzees. “Becoming Jane” opens to the public Saturday, Nov. 16.
Open
Players Athletic Club, a state-of-the-art indoor baseball training facility, is now open at 3525 Latrobe Dr. The site offers cage rentals, private lessons, and specialized group training.
Try This
Bojangles is transforming its West Boulevard location into “Boojangles” for one-night-only. Tonight from 8 to 11 p.m., guests can sample new “Bo-Bites” + a nugget graveyard and costumed Halloween Bo characters.
Seasonal
The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte needs volunteers this holiday season for the organization’s iconic Red Kettle Campaign. Volunteers are needed to be bell ringers at stores across the Charlotte area. (WCNC)
Sports
Bank of America Stadium will open upper level seating for Charlotte FC’s upcoming playoff game on Friday, Nov. 1. Tickets start at $20. Charlotte FC will play Orlando City SC in a best-of-three series. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Listen
Quarterback Bryce Young will start in Sunday’s game against the Broncos after Andy Dalton suffered a sprained thumb in a car wreck. Go beyond the field for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Category
Outdoors
🌳 Into the woods
Pisgah National Forest stretches for 500,000 acres across the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. | Photo by CLTtoday
Ever traveled to Pisgah National Forest? It’s a paradise for outdoors enthusiasts. Whitewater rivers, waterfalls, and hundreds of miles of forested trails make the 2+ hour road trip from Charlotte worth the drive.
Despite more than 10 million annual visitors, critical funding has fallen short to ensure the forest’s longevity. That’s where The Pisgah Conservancy steps in. The nonprofit works with the US Forest Service to provide key resources to preserve Pisgah for its guests.
Curious to learn more? The Pisgah Conservancy is hosting a “get to know us” event on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Birdsong Brewing Co.. Guests can enjoy a free first round of drinks from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m and learn about how to better support public lands + the aftermath of Helene.
Editor’s note: Several Pisgah campgrounds have reopened following the hurricane.
The Buy
The Buy
An emergency roadside kit. The 90-piece set comes with a LED headlamp, tire repair kit, jumper cables, window breaker and seat belt cutter, first aid kit, and more.
I had the pleasure of seeing the Carolina Raptor Center successfully release a rehabilitated barred owl back into the wild. Be on the lookout for my full story on the Raptor Center’s ongoing mission coming soon.
