Hornets partner with Honeywell to create smartest buildings in Charlotte
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Hornets Sports & Entertainment president of business operations Shelly Cayette-Weston addresses the media. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios
The Charlotte Hornets are partnering with Honeywell on a multi-year deal to turn Spectrum Center and their new training facility into two of the smartest buildings in the city.
Why it matters: The partnership will bring AI-powered automation to both Spectrum Center and the Hornets' new training facility — improving player performance, tightening security and streamlining building operations.
- Buildings are getting smarter because of what AI now makes possible, says Greg Turner, Honeywell chief solutions engineering officer, building automation.
Driving the news: Honeywell, a Charlotte-based industrial giant and Fortune 500 company, will serve as HSE's building automation partner, meaning it will handle everything from security to temperature at Spectrum Center and the Novant Health Performance Center across the street.
- The duration of the multi-year deal and its financial terms were not disclosed to reporters during a press conference Thursday.
How it works: The new training facility — which broke ground in March and is slated for completion in 2027 — is being designed with full-building automation in mind. Honeywell executives say the space is a blank slate, allowing them to integrate AI-driven systems from the ground up.
- The building will be able to recognize when someone arrives, triggering automated actions for Hornets staff. "Seconds matter," Turner says. That could mean prepping the athletic training room, adjusting environmental controls, or pulling up game film for players.
- HSE president of business operations Shelly Cayette-Weston says the seamless, tech-forward experience will help the team in recruiting. "It is going to create a competitive advantage," she says.
What we're watching: Spectrum Center recently reopened after a $245 million makeover. The 20-year-old building has seen nearly 400,000 fans come through its doors since reopening in October, Mike Behan, HSE chief business and revenue officer, says.
- HSE is targeting more than 150 events at Spectrum Center in 2026, which will be a significant uptick from previous years, Behan says. "It will be a sizable growth that we'll see both in number of events as well as the overall attendees," Behan says.
What's next: Honeywell technology will continue to be rolled out at Spectrum Center over time.