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    • Venue
    • Charlotte, NC

    Spectrum Center

    19,444 for Hornets games · best: sections 104–106 and 113–115

    Uptown Charlotte's arena, home of the Hornets and the ACC Tournament, explained section by section, with the strict bag rule you need to know first.

    By the Reserved Seat editorial teamUpdated How we research

    Looking for section numbers and the best seats by level? See the Spectrum Center Seating Chart.

    It is home to the Charlotte Hornets.

    Charlotte's Uptown arena and the Hornets' home

    Spectrum Center is the city-owned arena at 333 East Trade Street in Uptown Charlotte, home of the Charlotte Hornets (NBA) and the city's main venue for arena tours, college basketball and wrestling. It seats 19,444 for an NBA game. The best seats for a Hornets game are the lower sideline sections 104–106 and 113–115, with 105 and 114 at center court.

    The arena opened in October 2005 as Charlotte Bobcats Arena, became Time Warner Cable Arena in 2008, and took the Spectrum Center name after Charter Communications bought Time Warner Cable and rebranded it as Spectrum. The Hornets announced the change on August 17, 2016, and it became official that October. Because Spectrum is a common brand, note that this page covers the Charlotte arena; other venues with Spectrum in the name are unrelated.

    Spectrum Center seating chart: how the sections run

    Section numbers here come from the RateYourSeats section directory and the TickPick Hornets seating guide.

    100 level: sections 101–118

    The lower bowl wraps the court. Sections 105 and 114 are the center-court sections on opposite sidelines. TickPick places the Hornets bench in front of section 104 and the visitors' bench in front of 106. Sections 101–103 and 116–117, toward one end, are noticeably larger than their mirror sections on the other side of the court. Courtside seats run in rows A1 through A5 along the sidelines.

    200 level: sections 201–233

    The upper bowl has 33 sections, running in the same direction as the lower bowl. Upper-level sideline sections typically hold 20 to 22 seats per row.

    Suites and premium

    Between the two bowls sit the Founders-level suites and lounges, including terrace tables for four to eight people. TickPick counts 54 open-air Royal Box Suites. The 2024 renovation added a Courtside Club and relocated and upgraded the Hardwood Club and Inner Circle Club.

    Seat numbers

    Within a section, seat 1 is next to the adjacent lower-numbered section. In section 105, for example, seat 1 sits beside section 104. That makes aisle seats easy to predict: low numbers on one edge, high numbers on the other. Accessible rows are at the top of most sections.

    Best seats for Hornets games and concerts

    Basketball

    Sections 104–106 and 113–115 are the most desirable lower-bowl seats. Sitting across from the benches, in 113–115, gives you a clear look at both huddles and the full court. Rows near the middle of those sections avoid the heads of courtside fans without losing intensity. Behind the baskets, the bigger 101–103 and 116–117 sections are cheaper and fine for watching one end, but depth perception on the far end suffers.

    Upstairs, TickPick notes that the first three rows, A through C, of the upper bowl are much more valuable than the rest of the level, especially along the sidelines. A center-court seat in row A of the 200 level often gives a better overall view of a game than a lower-bowl corner.

    Concerts

    Capacity depends on how much of the bowl is sold: 13,376 for a 180-degree end stage, 15,236 at 270 degrees, 18,249 at 360 degrees and 18,504 with a center stage. For end-stage shows, the floor center and the lower sideline sections closest to the stage are the premium seats, and the end of the lower bowl opposite the stage gives the cleanest head-on view.

    Seats to avoid

    • Upper-bowl rows near the top at the ends: very far from the court, with the scoreboard as your main view.
    • Sections alongside an end stage: sharp angles and blocked screens.
    • Low rows directly behind the basket stanchions: the support and backboard sit in your line of sight.

    The bag policy at Spectrum Center

    As of the 2025–26 season, Spectrum Center allows bags no larger than 5 x 7 x 1.5 inches, and that limit applies to clear and opaque bags alike. A clear stadium tote larger than that is not allowed, which surprises fans used to NFL-style clear-bag rules. Exceptions are diaper bags for infants and young children, bags required for medical or disability reasons, and breast pump supplies. Some concerts have announced no-bag policies, so check the event page as well.

    • Re-entry: generally not allowed unless staff approve it before you leave.
    • Tickets: mobile, through the Hornets + Spectrum Center app or Ticketmaster; screenshots may be refused.
    • Payments: cashless, with Cash-to-Card kiosks inside.
    • Strollers: allowed, but they cannot sit in aisles or seating areas; larger ones can be checked outside sections 102 and 208.

    Read the arena's A–Z guide before you go.

    Parking, light rail and getting Uptown

    Light rail

    The LYNX Blue Line stops at CTC/Arena Station, steps from the entrances, and the 2024 renovation added a dedicated light rail entrance with five doors to speed entry. The CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar stops on Trade Street, and many CATS bus routes meet at the Charlotte Transportation Center across Trade Street. Taking the Blue Line from a park-and-ride lot is the low-stress way to reach a Saturday game.

    Parking

    The arena counts nearly 30,000 off-street parking spaces within a 15-minute walk, spread across Uptown decks and lots, and points fans to SpotHero for reservations. Rates vary by deck and event. Reserving ahead is the safer choice for big concerts.

    Capacity, renovations and history

    Spectrum Center's capacity is 19,444 for the NBA and 20,200 for college basketball. Concert capacity ranges from about 13,400 to 18,500 depending on the stage. When the Charlotte Checkers played here, hockey capacity was listed at 14,100 with the upper level curtained.

    The arena opened on October 21, 2005, at a cost of about 265 million dollars. It has hosted the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the 2019 NBA All-Star Game, the ACC men's basketball tournament in 2008, 2019, 2025 and 2026, and NCAA tournament games, including UMBC's 2018 upset of Virginia, the first win by a 16 seed over a 1 seed in the men's tournament. In 2022 the city approved a renovation and practice facility plan that keeps the Hornets in the arena through 2045; the first phase closed the building in the summer of 2024 and reopened it that October, with more work in the 2025 offseason. Background is on the Wikipedia entry.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the Spectrum Center bag policy?

    As of 2025–26, bags may be no larger than 5 x 7 x 1.5 inches, clear or not. Diaper, medical and breast pump bags are exceptions; check the current policy before you go.

    Where do you park for Spectrum Center?

    Uptown has nearly 30,000 off-street spaces within a 15-minute walk, and the arena recommends reserving through SpotHero. The LYNX Blue Line to CTC/Arena Station is the easiest way to skip parking.

    What is the capacity of Spectrum Center?

    It seats 19,444 for Hornets games and 20,200 for college basketball. Concerts range from about 13,400 to 18,500 depending on the stage setup.

    Was Spectrum Center called Time Warner Cable Arena?

    Yes. It opened as Charlotte Bobcats Arena in 2005, was Time Warner Cable Arena from 2008, and became Spectrum Center in 2016.

    How are seats numbered in a Spectrum Center section?

    Seat 1 is next to the adjacent lower-numbered section, so in section 105, seat 1 sits beside section 104. Lower-level sideline rows typically hold 18 to 22 seats.

    Where is the Hornets bench?

    According to TickPick, the Hornets bench is in front of section 104 and the visitors' bench in front of section 106. Sections 113–115 across the court face both.

    Sources