Upcoming games
Schedule data syncs from our events feed. Ticket links go to SeatGeek.
No upcoming games currently listed for Spectrum Center.
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Parking
Reserve a spot in advance — game-day parking near Spectrum Center fills early.
Getting there
Spectrum Center sits in Uptown Charlotte on East Trade Street, in the heart of the central business district and a few blocks north of Bank of America Stadium. The CATS LYNX Blue Line light rail stops at the 3rd Street / Convention Center station a short walk from the arena and the CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar runs along Trade Street directly past the venue. Driving from I-77 uses the Trade Street exit; arena-affiliated and adjacent Uptown garages ring the venue, and reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats event-night pricing. Rideshare drop-off zones are signed along Trade Street and Caldwell Street. Confirm bag and entry rules on the Hornets' official site before going.
The neighborhood
Uptown Charlotte wraps the arena on all sides — the dense business and entertainment core including the NASCAR Hall of Fame a short walk south, Romare Bearden Park to the west, and the Discovery Place science museum a short walk north. The EpiCentre area (the entertainment complex on Trade Street) sits two blocks west and hosts a cluster of bars and restaurants that fill with Hornets fans on game nights. South End — Charlotte's most concentrated brewery and restaurant district — sits a 10-minute LYNX ride south and pairs naturally with a longer game-day plan. Plaza Midwood — the Independence Boulevard / Central Avenue bar district — is a short ride east and offers a more independent restaurant scene for a quieter pre-game option. Bank of America Stadium sits a short walk south, putting the arena and stadium within an Uptown sports corridor.
Where to eat & drink nearby
Walkable pre-game stops include Whiskey Warehouse (an EpiCentre cocktail-and-game-day standby a few blocks from the arena), Howl at the Moon Charlotte (the EpiCentre piano-bar chain location), and Carolina Ale House Uptown (a Carolinas-chain game-day sit-down on Trade Street). 5Church Charlotte is an Uptown sit-down American restaurant for a higher-end pre-game dinner. For the canonical South End brewery crawl, Sycamore Brewing anchors the Camden Road brewery cluster a 10-minute LYNX ride south. Midwood Smokehouse on Park Road is the canonical Charlotte barbecue stop. Optimist Hall food hall a short ride north offers a varied pre-game meal. Pre-game crowds at EpiCentre bars build quickly within an hour of tipoff.
First-timer tips
Use LYNX or the Gold Line streetcar from anywhere in Uptown or South End — both stop within a short walk of the arena and beat the Uptown parking situation on event nights. The Hornets honor the franchise's full Charlotte basketball history (including the original 1988–2002 Hornets era and the 2004–2014 Bobcats era) — the team rebranded from Bobcats back to Hornets in 2014 and the building's exterior and interior signage reflect that history. Hugo the Hornet mascot remains one of the NBA's most recognized franchise mascots. Mobile-only tickets are the norm. The arena publishes current bag policy on its official site and the rules change — check before traveling.
Best games to catch
For the Hornets, marquee dates are visits from the league's biggest stars (Lakers/LeBron, Warriors/Curry — the Charlotte native who has consistently sold out the arena on Warriors visits, Celtics, 76ers) which consistently price above season average. Hornets–Heat is the closest geographic rivalry given the Carolinas/Florida regional weight. Hornets–Hawks and Hornets–Magic also pull steady regional crowds. The arena also hosts CIAA Tournament (the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association HBCU basketball tournament, with Charlotte the long-running host city), the ACC Tournament in select years, NCAA Tournament rounds in select years, and a steady concert calendar. The CIAA Tournament weekend in particular is one of the building's biggest annual draws. The Hornets' promotional calendar is published on the team site and varies year to year.
What to know
Spectrum Center opened in October 2005 as Charlotte Bobcats Arena (the home of the expansion Bobcats), was renamed Time Warner Cable Arena in 2008, and became Spectrum Center in 2016 after Charter Communications' acquisition of Time Warner Cable. The building replaced the Charlotte Coliseum (the original Hornets' home from 1988 to 2002) and was built to lure the NBA back to Charlotte after the original Hornets relocated to New Orleans in 2002. The Bobcats franchise rebranded back to the Hornets in 2014 (after the New Orleans Hornets had rebranded to the Pelicans the prior year, freeing the Hornets name), restoring the original Charlotte basketball identity and honoring the city's 1988–2002 Hornets history. The arena hosted the 2019 NBA All-Star Game. The CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament has used the arena for most years since the tournament moved to Charlotte. The building is owned by the City of Charlotte and operated by Hornets Sports & Entertainment.
Frequently asked questions
What time do doors open at Spectrum Center?
Doors typically open about 90 minutes before tipoff for standard games, sometimes earlier for marquee events or concerts. Check the arena's official event page for the specific date's door time.
How do I get to Spectrum Center on LYNX?
The CATS LYNX Blue Line stops at the 3rd Street / Convention Center station a short walk from the arena. The CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar runs along Trade Street directly past the venue.
Where can I park near Spectrum Center?
Arena-affiliated and adjacent Uptown garages ring the venue. Reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats event-night pricing. Many fans use LYNX or the Gold Line streetcar and skip parking entirely.
Is Spectrum Center the same as Time Warner Cable Arena?
Yes — the arena opened as Charlotte Bobcats Arena in 2005, was renamed Time Warner Cable Arena in 2008, and became Spectrum Center in 2016 after Charter Communications' acquisition of Time Warner Cable. It is the same Uptown building; only the naming-rights partner has changed.
Are the Hornets the same franchise as the Bobcats?
Yes — the franchise entered the NBA in 2004 as the expansion Charlotte Bobcats and rebranded back to the Hornets name in 2014. The team honors the full Charlotte basketball history including the original 1988–2002 Hornets era.
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