How Much Does it Cost to Attend a Charlotte Hornets Game?

The Charlotte Hornets and owner Michael Jordan have been largely mediocre over the last decade. But things have changed in the Eastern Conference, as the exit of LeBron James to the Lakers has opened the door for up and coming teams like the Hornets to make a serious playoff push. The team has improved with some off season acquisitions, and this may be the year when they are able to reach the playoffs, even if it is only as a 7 or 8 seed. The cost of seeing the possibility is generally reasonable when compared to the rest of the NBA.

Ticket prices are average when it comes to seeing a competitive team.

The Hornets have been competitive in the early part of the season, so the average price of a ticket has been what some call the most affordable of any NBA team. The low end price of a ticket will cost you about $10 for a single game. Of course, you can’t really see much from there, so if you are looking at something more expect to pay about $100 or more. Last year the Hornets had about 7 sold out games, and with a stadium that holds 19,000 it’s likely this year will have a few more.

When planning on going to a game at the Spectrum Center, keep in mind it has a seating capacity of about 19,000 fans. That includes the nosebleed seats. The best seats are usually owned by season ticket holders who paid a minimum of $450 for them, leaving everyone else to spend a lot extra to see a game. Going online and seeing what good seats are available is likely your best chance to get a decent seat to the game. Many season ticket holders are not planning to see every game, but pay out the money upfront with the chance of getting the first opportunity to buy playoff tickets.

Concession prices have been lowered and are among the lowest in the league.

Hornet’s management has found a way to lower concession prices, charging only $7 for a 12 ounce beer and $4 for a hot dog. They have created a smartphone app that allows you to order ahead of time and then pick up your order at designated concession stands around the stadium. You can also have your order delivered to your seat, but in both cases you must place the order through the app. There have been more than 19,000 downloads of the app since the beginning of the season, meaning many fans are willing to plan and order ahead to save what amounts to almost 50 percent off of the regular concession prices. If you opt not to use the app, expect to pay double – or more.

Parking at the Spectrum Center is about average compared to other NBA arenas

There are two good things about going to a Hornet’s game. The first is that you’ll not pay much to find a parking spot. The second is that you won’t have to walk very far to get to the Center. The main parking areas are less than a half a mile or about four city blocks away. That means you won’t have to arrive too early for the game and you can stretch your legs before and after the game.

The average total for a single regular season game for two people will run you about $250. There are other factors, such as who is playing. If the Golden State Warriors come to town, expect ticket prices to be significantly higher. Should the Hornets approach making the playoffs, expect there to be keen competition for the tickets. But other than the tickets, everything else should cost about the same.

While the ticket prices may seem steep for some people, remember there are only 82 regular season games for the team to pay for the player salaries, etc. That means there are only 41 chances to see a Hornet’s home game. Also, the Hornets are one of the few professional sports teams in both Carolinas, so there will be a lot of people willing to drive more than an hour to watch a game in person. If you do it just once a year, it’s all about the experience, so enjoy yourself.