Spectrum Center transformation underway as professional tennis event showcases Queen City on national stage
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Spectrum Center is undergoing a rapid transformation as crews work to convert the Hornets’ home court into a professional tennis venue ahead of Thursday’s second annual Charlotte Invitational.
The event, which brings some of the world’s top tennis players to the Queen City, features headlining matchups including Venus Williams versus Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe taking on Taylor Fritz.
Hannah Butler, director of operations for the Charlotte Sports Foundation, said this year’s event aims to build on the momentum from the inaugural tournament.
“This is a really incredible combination of such high-level, impressive, talented tennis, but also a little bit of fun too,” Butler said.
The conversion process from a basketball arena to a tennis venue requires extensive planning and coordination. Butler said preparations have been underway since last year’s event concluded.
“We’ve been planning this transition since the day after the Charlotte Invitational last year,” she said.
The transformation involves laying multiple protective layers over the NBA hardwood to create a safe playing surface for the tennis competition.
“They’re putting down multiple layers. They’re rolling it out, almost like a carpet,” Butler explained. “But safety is a number one priority, so making sure that everything’s going together the way that it’s supposed to.”
Beyond bringing elite tennis to Charlotte, organizers say the event serves as an opportunity to showcase the city to a national television audience. The Charlotte Invitational will be broadcast on the Tennis Channel.
“We loved that we were able to add the Charlotte word to our court so that when fans are watching the Charlotte Invitational on Tennis Channel all over the country, they see, oh, that’s happening in Charlotte,” Butler said.
The tournament represents part of a broader effort to establish Charlotte as a destination for professional tennis and expand the sport’s reach in the region.
The Charlotte Invitational begins Thursday at the Spectrum Center. Organizers said tickets are still available for the event.
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.