When the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament returns to Charlotte next week, a renovated Spectrum Center “will play a key role in the conference’s focus on generating more revenue,” according to Erik Spanberg of the CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Spectrum Center has seen more than $100M in arena upgrades, including “new and upgraded private clubs, updated upper-level fan areas and revamped luxury seating” since it last hosted the ACC Tournament in 2019. The ACC is “taking advantage of the redesigned and refined premium clubs and seating areas by selling VIP courtside, all-inclusive tickets.” Spectrum Center’s new Courtside Club on the court level of the arena is a “big part of the VIP packages,” which were not available for the 2019 event. The ACC also is “selling packages that allow fans into the arena’s Flight Deck restaurant,” accessible from the arena’s suite levels. ACC Associate Commissioner Carl Hairston Jr. said that “weekly ticket books are sold out” and “less than 1,000 tickets remain for the single day/individual session tickets sold for games played Wednesday through Saturday.” Spanberg notes more options will “likely be offered next year,” as the Hornets and city of Charlotte expect to “complete the final phase of renovations” before the 2026 ACC Tournament begins. The ACC’s approach and strategy are “similar to what was introduced for the football championship in December” at Bank of America Stadium, where the ACC “for the first time sold all-inclusive premium field-side seats, pre- and post-game field passes and other limited-availability VIP experiences” (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/6).
Spectrum Center upgrades key in ACC revenue generation plans for hoops tourney
