Editing Spectrum Center (section)

==History==
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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108328948/time-warner-wins-arena-naming-rights/|first=Jefferson|last=George|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Time Warner wins arena naming rights|date=April 8, 2008|accessdate=August 25, 2022|page=1D|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> When [[Charter Communications]] purchased [[Time Warner Cable]] in 2016, the name was again changed to reflect the [[Spectrum (cable service)|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 The Hornets' arena, [[Charlotte Coliseum]], was considered outdated despite being only 13 years old, primarily owing to the arena only containing eight [[Luxury box|luxury suites]], whereas the Palace of Auburn Hills, which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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A535&comments=yes|publisher=Creative Loafing Charlotte – Archives|title=World Class City, Third World Paycheck|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113092536/http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A535&comments=yes|archive-date=2009-01-13}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1334984&type=news|work=ESPN.com|title=Council willing to amend 'new owner' statement|agency=Associated Press|date=February 16, 2002}}</ref> 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 $265 million. Architects hoped the building would bring the city together, as its location and large outdoor plaza, among other features, would suggest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://basketball.ballparks.com/NBA/CharlotteBobcats/|title=Spectrum Center|first=BALLPARKS.com by Munsey and|last=Suppes|website=basketball.ballparks.com|access-date=4 August 2018}}</ref> The building's concourses and open design, plus artwork throughout also suggests the concept of community and socializing. One major feature of the arena was its original center-hung scoreboard, which was not only the largest scoreboard in any NBA arena when it debuted, but also featured a one-of-a-kind light-up 360 degree 3D mural of the Charlotte skyline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timewarnercablearena.com/timewarner/highlights/|title=Highlights - Time Warner Cable Arena|website=www.timewarnercablearena.com|access-date=4 August 2018}}</ref> In early 2006, the arena became the subject of controversy when the Bobcats charged a [[United States dollar|$]]15,000 fee to [[Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools]] for graduation ceremonies held at the building. The fee was eventually waived following media attention from a local newspaper. Many high schools in the area moved graduations to [[Bojangles' Coliseum]].{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

As part of the deal, TWC shuttered its poorly-performing [[regional sports network]] [[Carolinas Sports Entertainment Television|C-SET]] (which was established to serve as the Bobcats' rightsholder) and allowed the team to negotiate a new deal with [[Fox Sports South]] to ensure wider distribution of its games.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cranston|first=Mike|url=http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-040708-mw-bobcatsname.40c2805b.html|title=Time Warner gets naming rights for Bobcats Arena|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=[[WCNC-TV]]|date=April 7, 2008|access-date=April 7, 2008}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Jefferson|last1=George|first2=Rick|last2=Bonnell|url=http://www.charlotte.com/business/story/572628.html|title=Deals Widen Bobcats' TV Reach|newspaper=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|date=April 9, 2008|access-date=April 16, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417163438/http://www.charlotte.com/business/story/572628.html|archive-date=April 17, 2008}}</ref> Following [[Charter Communications]]' purchase of TWC, the arena was renamed as the Spectrum Center, in accordance with Charter's trade name for its cable services.<ref>{{cite news|last=Peralta|first=Katherine|title=Charlotte Hornets' home arena changing name to Spectrum Center|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article96036407.html|newspaper=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|date=August 17, 2016|access-date=September 13, 2016}}</ref>

=== Renovations ===
In September 2014, the Charlotte city council agreed to give the Hornets $34 million for arena renovations in preparation for the [[2017 NBA All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Spanberg|first=Erik|title=Council backs $34M for Charlotte Hornets' arena|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/queen_city_agenda/2014/09/council-backs-34m-for-charlotte-hornets-arena.html|publisher=[[American City Business Journals|Charlotte Business Journal]]|date=September 8, 2014|access-date=September 13, 2016}}</ref> (However, the game was moved to New Orleans because of a controversial [[HB2|HB2 bill]], but the Spectrum Center did host the [[2019 NBA All-Star Game]] to make up for it.)

On January 24, 2015, the Hornets announced and unveiled images of a new scoreboard to be installed in summer 2016, costing $7 million. The board's screens measure out at 25' high by 42' wide and 18' high by 31' wide, approximately, making it almost twice the size of the original board and among the NBA's largest. The screens are able to handle 1080p resolution, something unique to the  NBA. Two smaller "underbelly" screens would also be included. In addition, the scoreboard would be able to change colors and have a visible 'hive' motif built-in throughout its design. It was also announced that four retractable auxiliary scoreboards will be installed in the corners of the upper level and finally, 360° ribbon boards are scheduled to be installed as well. Construction was completed by the start of the 2016–17 NBA season. Also announced were plans for the renovation of the visitors locker room, suites, and other rooms.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hornets Introduce New Scoreboard Design|url=http://www.nba.com/hornets/hornets-introduce-new-scoreboard-design|publisher=Charlotte Hornets|date=February 24, 2016|access-date=September 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kiser|first=Bill|title=Hornets unveil design for new $7 million scoreboard, rave about its unique features|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article62221932.html|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|date=February 24, 2016|access-date=September 13, 2016}}</ref> This marked the first major renovations to the Spectrum Center in its history.

The city proposed a $245 million renovation plan for both the arena and the area around it in early 2022. It included various internal upgrades to the arena such as new HVAC units, and the possibility of an outdoor space for entertainment similar to others found at NBA arenas. The biggest addition would be a separate new practice facility located across the street from the arena. In addition, the cost would also cover upgrades to the existing transit station where the new facility would be.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/spectrum-center-renovations-uptown-charlotte-hornets/275-e612f5e2-8fab-4d27-8394-95cda7550bdb | title=City proposes $245M total for renovations to Spectrum Center | date=31 May 2022 }}</ref> City leaders approved the renovations, now priced at $275 million, in June 2022. Construction is expected to start in summer 2022 with a rough completion date in 2027.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/charlotte-leaders-discuss-renovating-spectrum-center/OYYLBWOS7NH6VB3BAKDQA54AFQ/ | title=Charlotte City Council approves $275 million for Spectrum Center upgrades, practice facility | date=14 June 2022 }}</ref>