City council approves zoning changes for Charlotte Hornets' new practice facility
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

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.
