Who We Are & What We Do

I am so grateful and honored to express my gratitude to our over 1650 attendees who participated in the HTA’s 2025 (31st) Annual Gala Event on Thursday, April 10th in the Crown Ballroom of the Charlotte Convention Center.

 

You helped us make this event the HTA’s largest and best event ever, and I thank you for your participation in our festive, black-tie optional, Las Vegas style event, which also included a live concert by the fantastic Liquid Pleasure band.

 

As a private membership organization which is solely funded by members, your active involvement with the HTA’s many different business development initiatives and your remarkable participation in our events is the absolute best endorsement for the value of HTA membership. We are so grateful to have the opportunity of working with and for you and your business.

 

Allow me to cover the following items:

 

1. Spectrum Center continued upgrades and $150M practice facility for NBA Charlotte Hornets

I am proud of the HTA’s role in working with the City of Charlotte and facilitating the investment of our Charlotte existing hospitality tax dollars to maintain, enhance and retain our tourism assets/venues which generate significant economic impacts for our region’s hospitality business and our area’s vibrant economy. We gladly did our part to facilitate investing nearly $300M of our existing taxes to drastically upgrade Spectrum Center to recruit more mega events to Charlotte and also securing the NBA team for Charlotte through 2045.

That investment plus over $300M private investment by owners of our NBA team started the first phase of Spectrum Center renovation last year and the second phase of that massive upgrade is currently underway. In addition, our Charlotte Hornets are breaking grounds on a major $150M ($120M from Hornets) practice facility/performance center adjacent to the Spectrum Center. Novant Health recently secured the naming rights for this awesome performance center. These upgrades will drastically help increase revenues for our hospitality business.

 

2. Enhancing Bank of America Stadium

Bank of America’s gradual major upgrades are ready to start as the home of our NFL Carolina Panthers, Charlotte FC (major league soccer team), mega concerts, mega college football games, and mega international soccer games will be upgraded though designated existing hospitality taxes plus additional private funds by the team to enable our community to secure more mega events while assuring that teams remain in Charlotte for the next two decades.

 

3. Mega recent and upcoming music festivals and concerts

• The second year of the awesome Lovin Life Music Fest (May 2-4) was a smashing success. This event, which is normally attended by over 80,000 people, is scheduled to be back next year from May 1-3, 2026.

• Kendrick Lamar’s concert (5/3), Shakira’s concert (5/13), Metallica (5/31) at Bank of America Stadium

• Plenty of concerts and music at many different venues including Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre

• Breakaway Music Festival (9/26-27) at Charlotte Motor Speedway

 

4. 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Golf Club (5/12-18)

Best golfers in the world (including Rory McIlroy) are in Charlotte this week to participate in the 2025 PGA Golf Championship

 

5. Charlotte Checkers Hockey team won 44 games during the season, defeated their opponent in the 2nd round of the playoff series and will face Hershey Bears in the 3rd round of the Calder Cup Playoffs with home games on May 16th and 17th at Bojangles Coliseum

 

6. Charlotte Knights Baseball Team started their season with hosting two great college baseball games (UNC vs. USC and 49ers vs. ASU) and are in the midst of their 2025 season.

 

7. Mega NASCAR Races

• 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race on 5/17 at North Wilkesboro Speedway

• 2025 Coca-Cola 600 Race on 5/25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

 

8. Events at Memorial Stadium

• 2025 ACC Lacrosse Tournament (5/2 – 5/4)

• Charlotte Ascent (pro women’s soccer team) next game on 5/17

• Carolina Anthem RC (professional rugby) next game on 5/18

• US National Rugby Team vs Belgium on 7/17

• US National Rugby Team vs Spain on 7/22

 

9. Major event at Bank of America Stadium

• Charlotte FC had a fantastic 2025 season opening game by defeating Atlanta United in front of over 51,000 fans on Saturday (3/1). They are having a great season, averaging over 30,000 attendees per game and positioning Charlotte to secure an MLS All-Star Event soon.

• Bank of America Stadium will be hosting the exciting Savannah Bananas Baseball Team vs. Party Animals on June 6th and 7th. Tickets to both games (over 150,000) are completely sold out.

• Bank of America Stadium will be hosting some major FIFA World Cup Games as Real Madrid FC (Spain) will play Pachuca (Mexico) on June 22nd and Bayern Munich FC (Germany) will play Benfica (Portugal) on June 24th. Two additional round 16 games will be played at BofA Stadium on 6/28 and 6/30 with teams TBD.

 

10. Major Events at Charlotte Convention Center

• 2025 World Taekwondo Grand Prix (6/13 – 6/15)

• 2025 NAACP Convention (7/12 – 7/16)

 

11. Charlotte has been awarded 2027 Military World Games and is pursuing the CIAA Basketball Tournament for 2028, 2029 and 2030.