It’s a slam dunk for Buzz City. The Charlotte Hornets broke ground on its state-of-the-art Novant Health Performance Center, a practice facility expected to draw basketball fans and the public for years to come.
“What you’re about to see is more than $150 million in investment in this community and in partnership with the city,” explained Rick Schnall, Hornets Sports and Entertainment Co-Chairman, at the groundbreaking ceremony.
In March 2024, the City of Charlotte approved $30 million to the project, with the Hornets covering exceeding costs and owning the new practice facility. The deal was part of a larger agreement that keeps the team in Charlotte through at least 2045.
Funded largely by the Hornets, the new building will boast more than 160,000 sqft of training and performance space, administrative offices, and retail space + the Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic, that will be open to the public. The site is also expected to have a public plaza on the corner of Caldwell and 5th streets.
“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 Schnall.
Sports fans across the Queen City will no longer be strangers to these types of upgrades. You may remember the Carolina Panthers are getting 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.
