Charlotte's safety image seen as key to landing major events
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Public safety is critical for Charlotte to remain competitive in hosting major events, according to a local sports executive.
Why it matters: Event promoters are less inclined to bring their events to a city where visitors and residents don't feel safe. That isn't just a bad look; it also hurts local businesses that benefit from additional foot traffic.
- Charlotte has been grappling with its national safety image since August 2025, when Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed on the light rail in South End.
Reality check: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police data indicates a 20% year-over-year decline in citywide violent crime.
Yes, but: Local leaders continue to combat a narrative of rising crime amid Charlotte's growth.
Catch up quick: During a recent business panel of Charlotte sports executives, Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) chief business and revenue officer Mike Behan said public safety should be a priority for Charlotte if it wants to remain competitive in landing major events.
Zoom in: There's a lot of buzz around the Hornets. The team could make the playoffs for the first time in years. Spectrum Center, where the Hornets play, recently completed a $245 million facelift over the last two NBA offseasons. They're selling out the arena.
Yes, but: Across the street is Charlotte Area Transit System's transportation center. CATS interim CEO Brent Cagle said last year that the site was not designed with security in mind.
- To address crime, CATS forced businesses at the Charlotte Transit Center to close after CTC security found it difficult to keep away criminal activity, according to a Federal Transit Administration audit.
- More issues occur on buses than on Charlotte's other forms of public transit, the Observer reported.
- See CMPD's crime mapper for reported crimes here.
Zoom in: Public safety has been a focal point for HSE over the last year, Behan says. It made several infrastructure upgrades to Spectrum Center, from new lighting and new cameras to using AI tools on the exterior of the arena. These are tied directly into CMPD, allowing for a quick response.
- HSE's collaboration with CMPD includes sharing data and information, Behan says. HSE has hired a head of security, who Behan says is in daily contact with CMPD.
- He also noted that HSE works with fellow Uptown businesses, who all have a vested interest in keeping the community safe.
- Inside the arena, they have roughly 500 cameras, which he says provide visibility during events.
The bottom line: Ensuring public safety will require collaboration from local leaders, as well as the business sector and the sports and entertainment side.
Go deeper: Uptown will get cleaner, brighter and safer, city leaders promise