Charlotte Hornets

Spectrum Center is right in the middle of uptown Charlotte and the building works well as a mid-size NBA arena at around 19,000 capacity. Sightlines are clean throughout and the lower bowl fills up reliably for big games. LaMelo Ball has given Charlotte something it has been waiting a while for - a genuine franchise centerpiece whose style of play makes every possession interesting.

Hornets fans carry the Buzz City identity hard. Teal and purple still show up everywhere on game nights, which is a testament to the franchise identity that goes back to the Muggsy Bogues era. The home crowd gets into it when things are clicking, and LaMelo has enough highlight plays per game to keep the building loud from tip-off.

Uptown Charlotte has solid pre-game options within walking distance of the arena. Trade and Lore Coffee does a brisk business on game afternoons, and if you head south toward South End, there are enough breweries to fill the time before tip-off. The light rail runs right through uptown and drops you close to the arena - CATS Blue Line riders know this is the easiest way in from the south side of the city.

Charlotte does not always get national credit for having an interesting basketball product, but the combination of LaMelo, the Spectrum Center environment, and a fan base that remembers the Shaq-era Alonzo Mourning teams means there is something real happening here.

Find Charlotte Hornets tickets on Evil Tickets - LaMelo in Buzz City is worth seeing before the national audience catches up.