Honeywell automates professional sports facilities for Hornet

Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) has entered a multi-year partnership with Honeywell to implement connected building automation and security technologies at Spectrum Center and the Novant Health Performance Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Modernizing arena and training infrastructure
The partnership focuses on deploying data-driven building systems across HSE’s two core facilities: Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets’ NBA games, and the Novant Health Performance Center, a practice and mixed-use facility currently under development.

At Spectrum Center, Honeywell technologies are being implemented as part of a recently completed renovation program. The scope includes integrated security and building systems supporting areas such as player and talent locker rooms and premium hospitality spaces. As part of the collaboration, the event level of the facility has been renamed the Honeywell Event Level.

Integrated systems at the performance center
At the Novant Health Performance Center, Honeywell is installing security, energy management, and life safety systems designed to support continuous operations and centralized facility control. The objective is to create a connected operational environment that supports both athletic performance requirements and day-to-day facility management.

The deployment includes unified security and access control across both venues using a centralized platform, enabling real-time monitoring and incident management from a single operational interface. This approach is intended to improve situational awareness and reduce response times in large, multi-zone facilities.

AI-enabled building management and energy optimization
Building operations at the Novant Health Performance Center will be managed using an AI-enabled building management platform designed to aggregate operational data and support automated control strategies. Energy management and metering functions allow building systems to adjust dynamically based on occupancy levels and external climate conditions.

Such adaptive control is increasingly used in large venues to balance occupant comfort with energy efficiency, particularly in facilities with variable usage patterns such as training centers, arenas, and mixed-use developments.

Life safety and systems integration
Life safety infrastructure at the performance center includes a smart fire detection system with automated self-testing capabilities. This functionality is intended to reduce manual inspection requirements and minimize system downtime while maintaining compliance with safety standards.

All security, safety, and building management subsystems are integrated through a centralized integration layer, providing operators with a unified view of facility operations across both locations. Centralized integration reduces system silos and simplifies maintenance and operational oversight.

Broader context in smart venue development
HSE’s investment reflects a broader trend in sports and entertainment infrastructure toward connected, data-centric building automation. As venues grow more complex and energy-intensive, integrated digital systems are increasingly used to enhance security, optimize energy consumption, and support more efficient facility operations.

Within this context, the partnership positions Spectrum Center and the Novant Health Performance Center as examples of how building automation technologies are being applied beyond commercial real estate, extending into large-scale public venues and professional sports environments.