Vote expected on proposed Hornets deal for arena renovations, new practice facility
.png "A rendering shows the proposed Charlotte Hornets practice facility, a high-rise building in place of the Charlotte Transportation Center next to the Spectrum Center.")
A proposed deal between the Charlotte Hornets and the city for renovations at Spectrum Center will be up for a vote Monday evening.
Late last month, the city of Charlotte proposed $215 million in investments to upgrade the uptown arena, and $60 million to build a practice facility for the NBA team, The Charlotte Observer’s Genna Contino reported.
Money for the renovations would come from the city’s tourism dollars — rental car sales tax or hotel occupancy rate tax, for example — and wouldn’t affect the city’s general fund budget, city officials have said.
The Hornets’ lease at the city-owned arena also would be extended until 2045. The existing lease is set to expire in 2030.
This past week, the city released early renderings that show a high-rise building for the Hornets towering over the Spectrum Center, and located where the existing Charlotte Transportation Center stands now.
The plan calls for the bus facility to be moved underground.
Naming rights would help pay for the proposed practice facility, city officials have said.
If the proposal is approved, construction could begin this summer and take four years.
The Observer asked readers for their take on the proposed arena renovation deal. Watch for a story on the poll results this week on our homepage.
The council will meet to review the proposal and other items at 5 p.m. Monday, followed by its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. The meetings will be broadcast on the Government Channel and the city’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
▪ Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners: The board will hold a budget policy session at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. As of mid-afternoon Friday, the board also had two special meetings scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday at times to be determined. The meetings can be watched on the Government Channel or online at watch.mecknc.gov.
New place for outdoor adventures
Lake Norman’s about to get a new attraction for families and outdoorsy types.
Catawba County will open Mountain Creek Park to the public next Saturday. The $8.5 million park sits on the northwestern tip of the lake in Sherrills Ford — about 34 miles northwest of Charlotte via N.C. 16 North.
Among the offerings at the 606-acre site are an an adventure playground, a mountain bike skills course, pickleball courts, a fishing pier and hiking trails.
The Observer’s Joe Marusak will have a sneak peek at the new park ahead of next weekend’s opening. Watch for it on CharlotteObserver.com.
Juneteenth in Charlotte
Several celebrations are planned across the Charlotte area this week for Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
The holiday is celebrated on June 19, and this year, it coincides with Father’s Day.
Charlotte Five has a list of gatherings in and around Charlotte at https://bit.ly/3zslluo.
Father’s Day Gift Guide
Time’s ticking, folks.
Father’s Day is a week away.
If you’re looking for a special treat for the dads, brothers, grandpas or friends in your life, the Observer’s Evan Moore has you covered. Among his gift ideas are local craft beers, a night of music and ‘cue, polos, koozies and even a pro wrestling experience. Look for his guide at CharlotteFive.com.
From CharlotteFive
▪ Get crafty with the whole family at a Creative Clay Workshop hosted in partnership with Clayworks and the ASCs Culture Blocks Program. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Free. David B. Waymer Recreation Center, 14008 Holbrooks Road, Huntersville. https://bit.ly/3th6mPY
▪ Enjoy an intimate performance of Queen’s legendary tunes in a candlelit setting while enjoying beverages available for purchase from Triple C Brewing Company. 7-8 p.m. Wednesday. $40. Purchase online. The Barrel Room, 2832 Griffith St., Charlotte. https://bit.ly/3zkXqwN
▪ Map out your selections for Untappd. Saturday’s festival features unlimited beer samples from more than 300 choices provided by 100 of the social networking platform’s highest-rated breweries — including some of your local favorites. Live music and souvenir cups are included. General admission is $60, while VIP entry is $150. American Legion Memorial Stadium, 1218-1238 Armory Drive. https://bit.ly/354E16K
Sports in Charlotte
▪ The Carolina Panthers will hold a mandatory minicamp for players Tuesday-Thursday. The minicamp is not open to the public. Follow coverage at charlotteobserver.com/sports.
▪ Charlotte FC heads to Ohio to take on the Columbus Crew, one of Major League Soccer’s original franchises, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The match will air on WSOC and Telemundo Charlotte.
▪ The Charlotte Knights return home for a six-game series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The series begins Tuesday, and this week’s promotions include two nights of fireworks.
Don’t Miss
▪ The fifth annual Pride Bar Crawl will take revelers around nine uptown bars. Some of the proceeds will benefit The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people. Tickets begin at $18. 4 p.m. Saturday. World of Beer, 210 E. Trade St.
▪ The Tattoo Festival, presented by Villain Arts, will take place in Charlotte for the first time. Friday-Sunday. Charlotte Convention Center. Day passes are $22, while a three-day pass is $45.
▪ Concert at major venues this week include Tears for Fears (Monday, PNC Music Pavillion), Ana Gabriel (Thursday, Spectrum Center), Maren Morris (Thursday, Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre), and Kid Rock (Friday, PNC Music Pavillion).
Compiled by Rogelio Aranda