The Hornets’ history has an unusual shape. The original Hornets played in Charlotte from 1988 to 2002 before moving to New Orleans, and the NBA came back in 2004 with the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. In 2014 the Bobcats became the Hornets again and took over the 1988–2002 history, so today’s team counts two arenas: the old Charlotte Coliseum and Spectrum Center.
Here is every home in order, with the years the Hornets played there, what made each one matter and what stands on the site today. Each arena with a ThrillZing guide links to it.
Every Hornets Arena, 1988 to Today
- Charlotte
- 1988–2002
Charlotte Coliseum (1988)
Opened in 1988 for the expansion Hornets, with almost 24,000 seats and the nickname the Hive. The Hornets led the NBA in attendance eight times here, but with only eight luxury suites it was called outdated, and the team left for New Orleans in 2002.
Today: Imploded in June 2007 after the city sold the property
- 2004–2005
Charlotte Coliseum (1988)
The NBA returned in 2004 with the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, who played their first season here while the uptown arena was built. Today's Hornets count the 1988–2002 Hornets and the Bobcats as one franchise.
Today: Imploded in June 2007 after the city sold the property
- 2005–presentCurrent home
Opened in October 2005 as Charlotte Bobcats Arena, then Time Warner Cable Arena from 2008 and Spectrum Center since 2016. The team took back the Hornets name for the 2014–15 season.
Visiting guide →
Hornets Arena FAQ
Where did the Hornets play before Spectrum Center?
At the Charlotte Coliseum, a nearly 24,000-seat arena nicknamed the Hive, from 1988 to 2002, and again for the Bobcats’ first season in 2004–05 while the new uptown arena was built. It is a different building from Bojangles Coliseum, which was called the Charlotte Coliseum before 1988.
What happened to the original Charlotte Hornets?
Owner George Shinn moved them to New Orleans in 2002, and that team is now the New Orleans Pelicans. When Charlotte took back the Hornets name in 2014, the league gave today’s Hornets the records and history of the 1988–2002 teams, while the Pelicans kept the history from 2002 on.
Why did Charlotte build a new arena?
The Coliseum was considered outdated only 13 years after it opened, mainly because it had just eight luxury suites. City leaders would not build a new arena while Shinn owned the Hornets, the team left, and the arena now called Spectrum Center opened in 2005 for the Bobcats.
Is the Charlotte Coliseum still standing?
No. It hosted its last NBA game, a Bobcats preseason game, in October 2005, and was imploded on June 3, 2007, after the city sold the property.
Where do the Hornets play now?
At Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte. It opened in 2005 as Charlotte Bobcats Arena, was Time Warner Cable Arena from 2008 and took its current name in 2016. It seats 19,444 for NBA games.