logo
Hornets in final phase of Spectrum Center's $250 million renovation

Hornets in final phase of Spectrum Center's $250 million renovation

Yahoo4 hours ago

The Charlotte Hornets aren't just rebuilding the roster, but also upgrading the very place they play in.
The Spectrum Center is in the second and final phase of a near $250 million renovation.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hornets Sports and Entertainment releases renovation update at Spectrum Center
Advertisement
You can get a sense of the changes through drawings and renderings, but the Hornets have now set up an entire preview center for fans to get a sneak peak.
'One of the most challenging things when you do a project like this is how do you tell the story and paint the picture before fans can walk in and experience it,' Hornets chief business and revenue officer Mike Behan said. 'It was really focused on how do you create the best experience for fans when they come out to games.'
The preview center is set up in the Fifth Third Center in Uptown.
'What you're seeing today in facilities is creating more authenticity. Bringing the community into the building,' Behan said. 'And really allowing that to be the story you're telling.'
Advertisement
The upgrades include complete overhauls to the concourse, founders level and new seats throughout the bowl. They are also adding 1,400 more seats to the lower bowl.
ALSO READ: Promising Pages joins Charlotte Hornets Foundation, dozens others in health, wellness fair
'Really, what we're seeing across the facility space, the arena space, fans want an opportunity to spend more time socializing,' Behan said. 'And we're excited that this renovation speaks to that and creates those types of experiences for fans.'
Behan says the new updates are also a platform to share Hornets history and what's to come.
Advertisement
'There's a lot of excitement and energy around the organization right now,' Behan said.
The project is expected to be done this fall.
(WATCH BELOW: Brandon Miller talks rehab, Hornets future and giving back through youth basketball camp)

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Yamamoto throws 5 sharp innings before rain delay, Muncy hits grand slam as Dodgers beat Rockies 8-1
Yamamoto throws 5 sharp innings before rain delay, Muncy hits grand slam as Dodgers beat Rockies 8-1

CBS News

time8 minutes ago

  • CBS News

Yamamoto throws 5 sharp innings before rain delay, Muncy hits grand slam as Dodgers beat Rockies 8-1

Max Muncy had a grand slam and drove in six runs, Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed one hit over five scoreless innings before exiting after a rain delay and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 8-1 on Wednesday night. Muncy's blast in the seventh was his eighth career grand slam. Michael Conforto homered for a second straight game, and Shohei Ohtani reached base four times, including a single, two walks (one intentional) and a catcher's interference call. The game was halted by a downpour in the sixth inning and right after Muncy hit a two-run single courtesy of an infield popup that was lost in the raindrops. Second baseman Thairo Estrada called for the ball before covering his head. The ball landed next to first baseman Michael Toglia. The tarp was then rolled out with the score 3-0. It proved to be one pitch too late for Colorado. The wait proved to be too long for Yamamoto, who didn't return after a delay of 1 hour, 27 minutes. Yamamoto (7-6) surrendered only a single to Sam Hilliard in the third and a walk to Estrada in the fifth. This was an efficient outing for Yamamoto, who threw 39 of his 56 pitches for strikes. He finished with six strikeouts. Rockies rookie Chase Dollander (2-8) went 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs. Key moment Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia struck out Ryan McMahon with a slider to end the sixth with two on in a 3-1 game. Key stat The Dodgers have won nine straight over the Rockies, including five in a row this season. Up next Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (3-0, 3.31) is eight strikeouts away from reaching 3,000 for his career heading into his start Thursday against Colorado. The Rockies will throw lefty Austin Gomber (0-1, 8.38).

Wizards and Hornets make intriguing picks in NBA draft despite lack of good lottery luck
Wizards and Hornets make intriguing picks in NBA draft despite lack of good lottery luck

Hamilton Spectator

time9 minutes ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Wizards and Hornets make intriguing picks in NBA draft despite lack of good lottery luck

The Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards produced two of the three worst records in the NBA last season — and neither received a top-three draft pick. After that uninspiring bit of lottery luck, they tried to make the best of it. The Wizards and Hornets had two first-round picks each, with Washington selecting Tre Johnson at No. 6 and Will Riley at No. 21, and Charlotte taking Kon Knueppel fourth and Liam McNeeley 29th. Those two teams accounted for over half of the Southeast Division's seven first-round picks in the NBA draft Wednesday night. Last year, this division owned the top two picks, which were made by Atlanta and Washington. The Wizards and Hornets could've been in that position this year with a little better fortune, but it was an intriguing night for them nonetheless. Washington added some scoring punch with Johnson, and the Hornets finally got 7-footer Mark Williams traded after a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers fell through last season. Charlotte sent him to Phoenix and got the 29th pick in return. Also active on the trade market were the Hawks, who dealt away the 13th pick and received the 23rd selection. That was after they'd already traded No. 22 in a deal bringing Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta . It was a quieter night for Miami and Orlando, which made one pick each in the latter half of the first round. Charlotte Hornets Needs: You name it, the Hornets need it. Most notably, Charlotte had to stabilize the center position after trading Williams to the Phoenix Suns (and dealing away backup Nick Richards last year). But that didn't happen, leaving Jusuf Nurkic and Moussa Diabate as the Hornets' big men and a big hole in the roster. But after winning only 19 games, improving 3-point shooting, rebounding and defense were also priorities and the team addressed some of those. Who they drafted: Knueppel from Duke and McNeeley from UConn. NBA comparisons: Knueppel draws comparisons to Cam Johnson and Bojan Bogdanović for his shooting ability, savvy play and basketball IQ. McNeeley has been compared to Corey Kispert. Washington Wizards Needs: After winning 33 games over the past two seasons, the Wizards still need whatever young talent they can find, and after drafting center Alex Sarr last year, it made sense that they would look to the perimeter. They could use a pure scorer since their recent draft picks — who have shown promise in general — have not been all that efficient in that department. Who they drafted: Johnson of Texas and Riley of Illinois. NBA comparison: Johnson has been compared to Tyler Herro , who is also 6-foot-5. That was an offense-oriented pick. Miami Heat Needs: The Heat clearly needed a boost on offense. Who they drafted: Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis from Illinois. He's a good shooter, good slasher and excellent in the pick-and-roll. A strong finisher as well, and some of the passes he tried at the college level showed he was NBA-ready. NBA comparison: For a Miami standpoint, try Goran Dragic — another smart European who wasn't afraid to go into the lane, draw contact and use his body against bigger defenders. Atlanta Hawks Needs: The Hawks' need for help at center was addressed in the trade for Porzingis. The deal left Atlanta looking to take the best player available before trading the No. 13 pick to New Orleans for the No. 23 pick and a 2026 first-rounder. Who they drafted: The Hawks stayed in state to take University of Georgia power forward Asa Newell, who averaged 15.4 points and 6.9 rebounds. He played strong defense and showed a midrange jumper. NBA comparison: Newell has been compared with former NBA forward Paul Millsap, who played four seasons in Atlanta. Orlando Magic Needs: The Magic acquired Desmond Bane from Memphis in a recent trade, a move they hope can improve their shooting. Four first-round picks went to the Grizzlies in the deal, so it's clear Orlando is in win-now mode. Picking 25th, the Magic tried to find a sleeper late in the first round. Who they drafted: Michigan State's Jase Richardson, whose father Jason also played for the Magic. NBA comparison: Richardson isn't big enough to be compared to his father, but if he can show similarity to Philadelphia's Jared McCain , the Magic would probably be pretty happy. ___ AP NBA:

Coach Jason Kidd to return for fifth season with Mavericks, GM Nico Harrison says after NBA Draft
Coach Jason Kidd to return for fifth season with Mavericks, GM Nico Harrison says after NBA Draft

New York Times

time12 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Coach Jason Kidd to return for fifth season with Mavericks, GM Nico Harrison says after NBA Draft

Jason Kidd will be back for his fifth season as the Dallas Mavericks' coach. That's what Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said Wednesday, hours after his team selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick. 'Are there rumors still out there about J-Kidd?' Harrison said. 'I thought I shut them down. Yes, he will be the coach next year.' Advertisement The New York Knicks have expressed serious interest in poaching Kidd from the Mavericks. The Knicks, who fired Tom Thibodeau three days after the Indiana Pacers eliminated them from the Eastern Conference finals, formally requested to interview Kidd on June 11. The Harrison-led front office in Dallas swiftly denied that request. Kidd has two years remaining on his contract with the Mavericks. He was part of the franchise's welcoming crew when Flagg did a two-day visit to Dallas the week before the draft. On ESPN's broadcast Wednesday, Flagg said he had positive conversations with Kidd in the lead-up to the draft. 'I think he has a lot of confidence in me to just come in and be an impact player,' Flagg told ESPN. 'He's going to let me have the ball a little, I think, and just try to rock out and do what I can do.' Kidd was one of five known coaches the Knicks asked to interview. The Knicks expressed interest in Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets), Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls), Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Quin Snyder (Atlanta Hawks). None of those franchises granted the Knicks permission to speak to their coaches. Udoka and Donovan received contract extensions. It remains unclear whether the Mavericks will tack more years onto Kidd's deal, given the Knicks' interest in him. The Mavericks have a 179-149 record in Kidd's four seasons in charge. They made the Western Conference finals in 2022, and in 2024, they won the West before their postseason run came to an end against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Though Kidd is returning, his coaching staff is expected to look significantly different next season. Sean Sweeney, Kidd's top assistant in Dallas, left to be the San Antonio Spurs' associate head coach. Jared Dudley is a candidate to be an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers, according to league sources. In March, Alex Jensen accepted a job to be the men's basketball coach at Utah. It's also possible Dallas loses God Shammgod, who is a candidate to join Jamahl Mosley's staff with the Orlando Magic. Kidd is expected to speak Friday, when the Mavericks formally introduce Flagg in a news conference in Dallas.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store