City council approves zoning changes for Charlotte Hornets' new practice facility
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Rendering courtesy of the city of Charlotte
On Monday night, the Charlotte City Council zoning committee approved zoning changes for the roughly 1.9-acre lot off Caldwell Street across from Spectrum Center, which will be the future site of a new Charlotte Hornets practice facility.
- The team's new ownership group is looking to invest $70 million to $100 million in the new facility.
Why it matters: City leaders envision ultimately creating a thriving district along Trade Street, including the arena, a new transit center and a new practice facility.
What's next: Next steps include working with land development and other city departments in the permitting and review processes, per a city spokesperson.
Catch up quick: Charlotte City Council approved $275 million for the team's facilities in 2022, including for both arena renovations and a standalone practice facility.
- This deal also kept the team in Charlotte through 2045.
- The 2022 deal included two proposed locations for the practice facility: a redeveloped Charlotte Transportation Center or 50% part of the gravel lot across from the arena.
Flashback: In March, city leaders voted 7-1 to move forward with altered plans for a standalone Hornets practice facility and redistribute city-committed funds from the practice facility to the arena.
- Future development could include a hotel or "something that activates Trade Street," assistant city manager Tracy Dodson said during the meeting.
- The team will own the new practice facility, which will be larger since it uses 60% of the lot rather than 50%. It will replace the current practice facility at Spectrum Center that faces 5th Street.
- The city would also redirect $30 million of the original $60 million intended for the practice facility to arena renovations.
- The new practice facility would open in time for the 2026-27 season, per a team spokesperson.
- "HSE is committed to fully funding the practice facility costs above the $30 million provided by the city," the Hornets said in part in a statement.
- Novant Health, a major Hornets sponsor, will likely have a presence at the new practice facility with a sports medicine and orthopedic space open to the public, a team spokesperson confirmed to Axios.
Zoom in: The Hornets owning the new practice facility frees the city of the financial obligation of maintaining it and the new plan also puts more public money toward the city-owned arena.
Between the lines: It's been just over a year since Michael Jordan sold his majority stake in the Hornets. The new owners are showing they aren't afraid to spend money and make trades.
- Fans voiced their frustration when the new owners — a group led by businessmen Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall —announced a substantial makeover for Spectrum Center. Many fans didn't care about luxury suites; they just wanted a winning team.
Editors' note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Charlotte City Council held a hearing on the Hornets' planned practice facility. (The council did not approve the plans for it.)
- This story was originally published on Feb. 26, 2024 and was updated on Sept. 16, 2024, to reflect zoning details.