North Charlotte Today

The Charlotte Hornets are set to unveil the completion of Phase I of their Re!magine Spectrum Center renovations at their home opener against the Miami Heat this Saturday. The updates come as part of a broader effort to enhance the fan experience and reflect the team's commitment to fostering a winning culture in Charlotte.

“There’s a lot of excitement in Charlotte and certainly a lot of excitement and energy around the Hornets organization,” stated Shelly Cayette-Weston, President of Business Operations for Hornets Sports and Entertainment. She highlighted the dedication of owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin towards building a successful environment both on and off the court.

Fans attending Saturday's game will have early access from 5:30 p.m. to explore various enhancements made throughout the arena. These include more frictionless food stations, an updated lobby near Trade Street Entrance, a new Light-Rail Entrance by the Hornets FanShop, technology improvements for quicker entry and exit, brand-new Event Level Clubs, and Novant Health Suite Level upgrades. While bags will not be checked upon entry, they must adhere to size restrictions unless they are diaper bags or medical devices.

Cayette-Weston expressed her enthusiasm about these developments, saying, “My favorite part of the upgrades is that there’s just something for everyone.” She emphasized that fan feedback was central to these changes with more improvements expected next year.

On the basketball front, the Hornets are riding high after an 18-point comeback win in Houston which marked their fourth consecutive season-opening victory. Cayette-Weston remarked on this positive start but reiterated that sustainable success remains their ultimate goal: “First of all, it feels great to be undefeated... It's about building something.”

Attendees at Saturday's game will receive complimentary 'Carolina Strong' T-shirts and Hive Mentality Rally Towels. A different version of the T-shirt is available for purchase with proceeds benefiting Hurricane Helene relief efforts. The event will also feature live jazz music outside Spectrum Center, introductions from players before tipoff, and a halftime tribute honoring late public address announcer Pat ‘Big Pat’ Doughty.