Hornets' $180M practice facility to open in spring 2027
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The Charlotte Hornets' new roughly $180 million practice facility will open next spring.
Why it matters: Charlotte is in the midst of a sports facility renaissance, from stadiums and arenas to practice facilities. For the first time in years, the product on the court and field is beginning to match that investment.
Driving the news: The Hornets held a topping off ceremony Monday. The construction tradition saw the final beam raised to the top of the structure.
What to expect: The 160,000-square-foot facility will house the team's headquarters and practice courts, plus a Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine clinic.
Between the lines: When the Hornets broke ground on the Novant Health Performance Center in March 2025, the team was an afterthought. Now they are starting to emerge as a relevant team, co-owner Rick Schnall told reporters Monday.
What we're watching: The Hornets' rebuild was ahead of expectations this season, Schnall told reporters Monday.
- Basketball legend Michael Jordan sold his majority stake in the Hornets to a group led by Schnall and Gabe Plotkin in 2023. The team's new ownership inherited a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2015-2016.
- As the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Hornets had a shot at entering the playoffs through the Play-In Tournament, but they fell short against the Orlando Magic in their second play-in game.
- "When you look at the playoffs, we would've had a tough time in the playoffs," Schnall says. "We have to continue to build the team."
The big picture: Upgrades to Spectrum Center and the new standalone practice facility are part of a broader vision for a district around Trade Street.
- While they don't have a name for the district yet, they do like Hive District. All of the pieces aren't quite in place yet, Schnall says.
- The goal is to provide fans with more to do before and after events at the arena. That's part of what makes a premier NBA franchise, Schnall says.
The bottom line: "We didn't buy this team to be average," team co-owner Gabe Plotkin said Monday.
