Spectrum Center

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Lore & Background

The arena opened in October 2005 as Charlotte Bobcats Arena. The name was changed to Time Warner Cable Arena when the naming rights were purchased in 2008. When Charter Communications purchased Time Warner Cable in 2016, the name was again changed to reflect the Spectrum trade name. The arena was originally intended to host the original Hornets franchise in the early 2000s. The Hornets' arena, Charlotte Coliseum, was considered outdated despite being only 13 years old, primarily owing to the arena only containing eight luxury suites, whereas the Palace of Auburn Hills, which opened the same year as the Coliseum, had 180. In 2001, a non-binding public referendum for an arts package, which included money to build the new uptown arena, was placed on the ballot for voters; it was placed in order to demonstrate what was believed to be widespread public support for new arena construction. Polls showed the referendum on its way to passage until then-mayor Pat McCrory vetoed a living wage ordinance just days before the referendum. As a result, Helping Empower Local People, a grass-roots organization supporting a living wage, launched a campaign to oppose the arena, arguing that it was immoral for the city to build a new arena when city workers didn't earn enough to make a living. The referendum failed with 43% for building the arena and 57% opposed. City leaders then devised a way to build a new arena that did not require voter support, but let it be known that they wouldn't consider building it unless then-Hornets' owner George Shinn sold the team. While even the NBA acknowledged that Shinn had alienated fans, NBA officials felt such a statement would anger other team owners. As it turned out, the NBA approved the Hornets' application to move to New Orleans. However, the league promised that the city would get a new team—which became the Bobcats—as part of the deal. The total cost of the arena to Charlotte and Mecklenburg County was not known, but estimated at $260 million. The construction was approved by the city council, which did not opt to present another referendum to the public. The arena opened as the Charlotte Bobcats Arena on October 21, 2005, costing $265 million. Architects hoped the building would bring the city together, as its location and large outdoor plaza, among other features, would suggest. The building's concourses and open design, plus artwor

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere inside the Spectrum Center shifted dramatically on March 16, 2018. The arena hosted an NCAA Tournament game where the UMBC Retrievers delivered a historic shock, defeating the Virginia Cavaliers 74–54 to become the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in the tournament's 64-team era. That night, the crowd witnessed a turning point in college basketball history within these walls. Years prior, on January 27, 2018, the venue hosted its first UFC event for Jacaré vs. Brunson 2, bringing mixed martial arts to Uptown. The building has also seen its share of controversy and triumph; it was stripped of hosting rights for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game due to North Carolina's HB2 bill but reclaimed that honor in 2019 after legislative changes satisfied the league. From the $15,000 graduation fee charged to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in early 2006 (later waived after media backlash) to the installation of a new $7 million scoreboard in summer 2016 featuring 1080p resolution and a 'hive' motif, the arena has evolved through every challenge.

Reader's Guide

The arena seats 19,444 for NBA games, but can be expanded to 20,200 for college basketball games. It has hosted NCAA tournament games (2008, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2024), ACC men's basketball tournaments (2008, 2019, 2025, 2026, 2028), Southern Conference men's basketball tournament (2010), and CIAA men's and women's basketball tournaments (2006–2020). It also hosted UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2 on January 27, 2018, and UFC on ABC: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida on May 13, 2023. The arena hosted the Democratic National Convention in 2012 and the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions in 2016. It was scheduled to host the 2017 NBA All-Star Game but was removed due to the league's opposition against North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act; it later hosted the 2019 NBA All-Star Game. The arena was originally scheduled to host the 2020 Republican National Convention, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the event was scaled back with Day 1 events at the Charlotte Convention Center and the remainder held virtually.

Did You Know?

• The arena opened as Charlotte Bobcats Arena in October 2005.
• The original center-hung scoreboard was the largest in any NBA arena when it debuted and featured a 360-degree 3D mural of the Charlotte skyline.
• The arena hosted the first ever 16–1 upset in the NCAA Tournament since the 64-team field was adopted, when UMBC defeated Virginia on March 16, 2018.
• The Charlotte Checkers (both ECHL and AHL incarnations) played 10 seasons at the arena before moving back to Bojangles' Coliseum in 2015.

Origins and Political Controversy

The arena's birth was not guaranteed; it emerged from a fractured political landscape following the original Hornets' departure. A non-binding referendum in 2001, meant to gauge support for an arts package including the new arena, failed with 57% of voters opposing it. This defeat stemmed largely from Mayor Pat McCrory's veto of a living wage ordinance days before the vote, prompting groups like Helping Empower Local People to argue that funding a sports venue was immoral when city workers couldn't afford a living wage. Undeterred, city leaders devised a strategy to build without voter approval, making it clear they would only proceed if then-Hornets owner George Shinn sold the team. The NBA, acknowledging Shinn had alienated fans, approved his sale and the franchise's move to New Orleans but promised Charlotte an expansion team, which became the Bobcats.

Architectural Design and Naming Evolution

Designed by architects hoping to unite the city, the facility opened on October 21, 2005, as Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Its design emphasized community through open concourses and a central plaza. A defining feature was its original center-hung scoreboard, the largest in the NBA at debut, showcasing a one-of-a-kind 360-degree light-up 3D mural of the Charlotte skyline. Naming rights evolved with corporate ownership: purchased by Time Warner Cable in 2008 (becoming Time Warner Cable Arena), and renamed Spectrum Center in 2016 after Charter Communications acquired TWC. The arena's identity has thus shifted from a local expansion symbol to a global brand name, yet its core function as a multi-purpose hub remains constant.

Technological Upgrades and All-Star Hosting

In September 2014, the Charlotte City Council allocated $34 million for renovations targeting the 2017 NBA All-Star Game. Although the game was moved to New Orleans due to the HB2 bill controversy, the venue successfully hosted the makeup event in 2019. These upgrades included a new scoreboard unveiled on January 24, 2015, and installed by summer 2016 at a cost of $7 million. The new board features screens measuring approximately 25' high by 42' wide (and smaller underbelly screens), offering 1080p resolution—a unique NBA feature—and a visible 'hive' motif. Additional enhancements included four retractable auxiliary scoreboards and 360° ribbon boards, completed before the 2016–17 season.

Historic Moments and Future Expansion

The Spectrum Center has cemented its place in sports history through college basketball upsets, most notably hosting the first-ever 16-over-1 upset in the NCAA Tournament's 64-team era when UMBC defeated Virginia 74–54 on March 16, 2018. It continues to host major tournaments like the ACC men's tournament (2008, 2019, 2025–2028) and the CIAA tournaments (2006–2020). Looking ahead, city leaders approved a $275 million renovation plan in June 2022. This massive project includes internal upgrades like new HVAC systems, potential outdoor entertainment spaces, and a separate practice facility across the street. Construction began in summer 2022 with an expected completion date of 2027.