September 10, 2014 – The Charlotte Hornets announced today that the organization will host Buzz Fest, the largest two-day jam session-style fan festival in the Carolinas to commemorate the return of the Hornets and the beginning of the team’s 2014-15 season on Friday, Oct. 24 (3 p.m. – 11 p.m.), and Saturday, Oct. 25 (11 a.m. – 11 p.m.) at the Charlotte Convention Center.
General admission for Buzz Fest is $10 per day and children 12 years of age and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets go on sale on Friday, Sept. 12 and can be purchased at the Time Warner Cable Arena Box Office and the Bojangles Coliseum Box Office as well as online at Ticketmaster.com and hornets.com. As one of their member benefits, Hornets season ticket holders (Swarm365 Members) will be admitted free to Buzz Fest.
“As an organization, we wanted to kick off the monumental return of the Hornets with a unique event that not only builds excitement around our season but also rewards our fans,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield. “Our fans have truly embraced us during this transition and Buzz Fest is a great way for our entire community to celebrate the return of the Charlotte Hornets as we embark on the upcoming season and the next chapter of Charlotte basketball history.”
Buzz Fest will be a highly interactive jam session atmosphere that will feature musical performances, a youth basketball tournament, meet-and-greets with former Hornets and NBA greats and a kids zone. Each day fans can enjoy live music and performances from national recording artists (to be announced at a later date), as well as interactive games, youth basketball and chalk talks with Hornets legends and former NBA Greats. The festivities begin at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, and includes Grammy Award-winning artist and Hornets minority owner Nelly, who will be hosting the weekend, as well as current and former Hornets and NBA players, Hugo and the Honey Bees.
As part of Buzz Fest, the Hornets will hold an open practice at noon on Saturday, Oct. 25. Doors open at 11 a.m. and fans in attendance will have the opportunity to receive autographs from players and the Honey Bees at the conclusion of the open practice.
Official team merchandise will be available for sale, concession stands throughout the 280,000 square feet Charlotte Convention Center will be open and various entertainment elements will be on display. A full schedule of events will be listed on hornets.com
Buzz Fest is a Hornets Sports & Entertainment production in conjunction with J.H.E. Productions and Boone-Oakley. The youth basketball tournament will be coordinated by Carolina Courts, while Your Event Source will manage the kids zone.
Hornets full season tickets and Half Season Pick Plans are available for purchase now by calling 704-HORNETS. The Half Season Pick Plan is a 23-game package that includes the first Charlotte Hornets home game in 12 years plus any other 22 games on the schedule. Hornets full and half season tickets are currently the only way to reserve lower-level seats for the Hornets return to Charlotte.
The Charlotte Hornets name officially returned to the Carolinas on May 20, 2014. The Hornets was the name of the city’s first NBA franchise from 1988-2002.