Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) and Honeywell announced a multi-year strategic partnership that designates Honeywell as the Official Building Automation Partner for the Charlotte Hornets. Through the partnership, Honeywell will deploy its innovative, AI-driven solutions to help enhance the safety and efficiency of HSE’s two core facilities – Spectrum Center and the Novant Health Performance Center – for guests, players and employees.
At Spectrum Center, home of the Hornets' NBA games, Honeywell will implement advanced security and building integration systems as part of a recently completed extensive renovation. The floor of the facility housing player and talent locker rooms and premium clubs will be officially renamed the Honeywell Event Level.
In addition, at the new Novant Health Performance Center – a practice and mixed-use facility currently under development – Honeywell will install state-of-the-art security, energy management and life safety systems. These upgrades will help create a smarter, safer and more connected environment that further supports HSE’s goal of becoming a premier NBA franchise. Honeywell will also be named as a Foundational Partner of the Novant Health Performance Center, joining an intentional group of local companies, including Novant Health and Truist, that are integrated into the project and committed to investing in the continued growth and vitality of Uptown Charlotte.
“As a local Charlotte organization, we are thrilled to welcome Honeywell to our expanding family of partners as we build a new era of Hornets basketball,” said Mike Behan, Chief Business and Revenue Officer at HSE. “With Honeywell as our automation partner, we can create an elite training environment and enhance game-day experiences for everyone who visits our state-of-the-art facilities. The innovative advancements Honeywell will bring to Spectrum Center and the Novant Health Performance Center mark a significant milestone for our organization and the entire city of Charlotte.”
“Our partnership with HSE transcends technology – it's about fostering a welcoming environment where fans can connect and truly enjoy the game in smarter, more efficient spaces,” said Juan Picon, President, Americas, Honeywell Building Automation. “We look forward to collaborating with the Charlotte Hornets to pioneer the future of smart venues in the years to come. By connecting the Hornets’ facilities through an integrated digital ecosystem, the HSE team will gain real-time insights that enable them to enhance operations for players and staff while also elevating the overall experience for fans and the local community.”
HSE’s substantial investment into building automation reflects a global trend toward modernizing sports and entertainment infrastructure through connected, data-driven systems that help enhance security, foster community engagement and optimize energy management.
As the Official Building Automation Partner for the Charlotte Hornets, Honeywell will partner with HSE to integrate several key innovative solutions including:
- Unified security and access controls: Honeywell’s LenelS2 OnGuard Access Control platform will deliver centralized, real-time monitoring and incident management across both the Novant Health Performance Center and Spectrum Center.
- AI-powered building management: Honeywell Connected Solutions, an AI-powered platform built on Honeywell Forge, will streamline operations at the Novant Health Performance Center. The platform’s energy management and metering will facilitate real-time adjustments to building controls based on climate conditions and occupancy levels, thereby improving comfort for players while reducing the building’s energy consumption.
- Advanced life safety systems: At the Novant Health Performance Center, Honeywell's XLS4000 smart fire detection system will provide an innovative self-testing functionality, which will help reduce operating costs and operational downtime, while ensuring the facility’s fire-detection system remains ready for any emergency.
- Comprehensive systems integration: Honeywell’s Enterprise Buildings Integrator will integrate and manage all security and building management systems, empowering facility operators with streamlined, centralized control across both Spectrum Center and the Novant Health Performance Center.
