Bojangles Coliseum, Ovens Auditorium get $25M tune-up amid soaring revenue
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The BOplex entertainment complex, home of the Charlotte Checkers, secured City Council approval for $25 million for maintenance on Monday.
Why it matters: The investment reflects the city's desire to keep Ovens Auditorium and Bojangles Coliseum viable, as the aging venues' annual revenue has grown from $2.9 million to $19.2 million over the last decade.
- The complex hosts over 300 events a year, up from 140 events in 2015, according to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which manages the city-owned facility.
The latest: Charlotte City Council OKed the spending from the tourism fund. The reserve is funded by taxes on hotels and rental cars and is routinely used to fund arena maintenance.
- The money isn't for anything too sexy. Rather, it will cover $23 million in HVAC upgrades. The city is also spending $2 million on studies of the MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) systems to inform future funding requests.
- CRVA's Steve Bagwell says the BOplex's core systems are past their lifespan. The Ovens' chiller is from the 1990s, and boiler systems date back to the 1950s and 1970s.
The intrigue: At 70 years old, Bojangles Coliseum has been showing its age lately. Several events in February were forced to reschedule due to a roof leak, including the USA Curling national championships.
- The roof repairs are not part of the $25 million funding package but are being addressed as part of an ongoing roof resealing.
Flashback: The last time the venues got a big facelift was in 2020. The city spent $18.5 million to build a connector between the two buildings, plus expanded restrooms, improved pedestrian access and a new hospitality space.
What's next: Charlotte Crown, a new women's basketball team, will start playing at the venue in May. The HVAC work will be done in July.