The Charlotte Hornets and city leaders are planning a big move for Uptown: transforming the blocks surrounding the Spectrum Center into a walkable sports and entertainment corridor, with the team’s new training facility serving as an anchor. The idea is to locate retail stores, restaurants and outdoor programs along Brevard Street, while the Novant Health Performance Center rises across from the arena.
As the Charlotte Business Journal first reported today, Hornets executives are exploring a revamped entertainment district connected to the Spectrum Center and surrounding blocks. According to that report, team leaders see the Novant Health Performance Center as the spark for a broader Uptown development and new year-round programming.
What the Novant Health Performance Center will include
The Novant Health Performance Center will be located next to the Spectrum Center and will house training, administration and publicly accessible sports medicine care, the team said. According to the Charlotte Hornets, the 15,000-square-foot facility will include more than 9,000 square feet of practice and recreation space, as well as two full-size playgrounds.
Axios also reported that the project will cost more than $150 million and that the city has committed about $30 million to the development. Those dollars, if everything stays as it is, would help turn what is now largely a support area into a high-profile fan destination.
How Brevard Street could change
Under concepts discussed by city officials and developers, Brevard Street would serve as the backbone of the sports and entertainment district. Portions of the street could be closed for events, street-level retail stores could be added, and the Charlotte Transportation Center could be redeveloped to free up developable land.
According to the Charlotte Business Journal, private developers and city staff are drafting a phased plan that could stretch along Brevard and connect the arena, practice facility and nearby retail centers into a more seamless corridor.
Officials blame the economic upturn
Hornets owners and city officials see the move as a way to turn occasional arena nights into a year-round attraction for Uptown, with more jobs and ground-floor businesses aimed at both residents and fans. Team co-owner Rick Schnall told WSOC-TV that “it takes a lot of commitment from us,” while the team’s website calls the performance center “a transformative project” for Uptown.
Next steps and timeline
Construction began with a groundbreaking in 2025, and the Hornets and project partners expect the performance center to open during the 2026-27 NBA season, according to project listings. Novant Health Performance Center’s page on Charlotte Center City Partners lists construction at 501 E Trade St and notes that completion is scheduled for the 2026-2027 season. Rezoning, design review and public meetings for the broader Brevard Street concept are still ahead.
If these pieces fit together, Uptown could feel very different on game nights and quiet weekdays as the Hornets look to trade parking lots and empty storefronts for a more vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood. Watch out for rezoning applications and public meetings in the coming months, as these often shaky moves will determine whether it’s a glossy presentation or a real change in the neighborhood.
