The city of Charlotte owns the arena, but the Hornets have a contract with the city to manage itGETTY IMAGES
Charlotte has been confirmed as host of the '20 Republican National Convention, and the city's contract with the RNC says the host committee "must pay" the Hornets $5.5M to use Spectrum Center, according to Steve Harrison of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. The RNC "plans to use" the arena for "most of the convention, including the speeches and the official nomination." The city "owns the arena," but the Hornets "have a contract with the city to manage it." The local host committee "will pay the Hornets -- not the city -- for the right to use" the venue. The '12 Democratic National Convention also "was held in the arena." For the DNC, the local host committee "paid the then-Charlotte Bobcats" $5M for the building. The GOP "could hold events" at Ovens Auditorium, Bojangles' Coliseum, the NASCAR HOF and the Charlotte Convention Center. The NASCAR HOF will "likely host a number of parties." For the '12 DNC, Democrats "planned to use Charlotte Motor Speedway for a Labor Day event" and for President Obama to "give his acceptance speech at Bank of America Stadium." But both events "were canceled" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/21).
