Michael Jordan's Charlotte Hornets have been selected to host the National Basketball Association's 2017 All-Star Game, the league said on Tuesday. Top players representing the NBA's Eastern and Western Conferences will tip off at Time Warner Cable Arena on Feb. 19, capping a weekend that includes the popular slam dunk contest and other events.
The North Carolina-based Hornets, owned by six-times NBA champion and Basketball Hall of Famer Jordan, previously hosted the All-Star Game in 1991. Landing an All-Star weekend, a showcase of skills competitions and exhibitions culminating in a game that pits the league's marquee players against each other, offers big business benefits to the host city.The 2015 All-Star Game was hosted by New York City and generated an estimated $195 million in economic activity. Toronto host the 2016 All-Star Game, marking the first time the event will be held outside the United States.
In partnership with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), the NBA will host several events for fans of all ages at the Charlotte Convention Center and Bojangles' Coliseum. These events, including the NBA All-Star Practice, Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, NBA Development League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire and the NBA Development League Dream Factory presented by Boost Mobile, will feature exciting non-stop basketball action, and will give fans unique, up-close access to NBA and WNBA players and legends, along with family-friendly entertainment throughout the weekend.
"Major events such as NBA All-Star are proven economic generators that benefit our community's quality of life through the visitor spending they create," said Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority Chief Executive Officer Tom Murray. "We're incredibly proud to host an event that will infuse tens of millions of dollars into our community and showcase the many reasons why Charlotte continues to be an attractive place to live, work, play, and visit. It's rewarding to see the collaboration of our partners and the entire hotel community come together to make this event a reality for our city."
In addition to the arena, convention center, and coliseum events, the NBA will continue its commitment to social responsibility with a full schedule of NBA Cares events throughout the week. Through partnerships with schools, government, and local nonprofits in and around Charlotte, the NBA will reach thousands of children and families and provide important resources to community-based programs.
