CAROLINA THEATRE, the busiest months for live events, DURHAM, N.C. rentals and film. The theater CHARLOTTE’S Bethann West James, was in the middle of strategic interim president and CEO planning and a Development Feasibility Study to expand the SPECTRUM How was venue business community’s investment in the before the shutdown? theater. There were expanded The Carolina Theatre of staffing plans and events. All of CENTER Durham was very busy and these events had to be postponed profitable prior to the mid-March or canceled, which resulted in shutdown. The live events busi- large losses in revenue. CELEBRATES ness was excellent with multiple sold-out shows. Rental demand Have you done any work on was very high from local arts the venue during the shut- 15 YEARS organizations and businesses. down? Attendance at films and film The Carolina Theatre Op- festivals was strong. Concessions erations Department has been Commemorative revenues were up 16% over the very busy during the shutdown logo rolls out, along same period last year. Had the working on maintenance projects shutdown not occurred, FY2020 and building improvements. with marketing to would have been one of the busi- Building improvements projects mark the occasion est and most profitable in recent have included a major three- years. week plaster conservation project had diverse events that hit all in Fletcher Hall, completing a BY LISA WHITE of the demographics,” said What big shows did your ven- historic exhibit, updating interior Donna Julian, Hornets Sports & ue host over that period? signage, painting numerous areas ince Spectrum Entertainment executive vice The Carolina Theatre hosted a of the building, and reorganizing Center’s first event president and Spectrum Center variety of big shows between July storage areas just to name a few. Oct. 21, 2005 — a general manager. “Our philos- 2019 and mid-March 2020 includ- Rolling Stones concert ophy is people are making the ing Eric Andre, Mavis Staples, Bi- What preparations are you — the momentum has decision to come to our facility, anca Del Rio, Mary Chapin Car- taking for your venue’s even- continued. and we want to give them the penter and Shawn Colvin, Marcus tual reopening? S As the Charlotte, N.C., best experience possible.” King Band, six Dave Chappelle The operations staff has attend- venue celebrates its 15th year, In addition to hosting the shows, The Second City, Kathleen ed numerous webinars and read it’s putting together a platform 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend, Madigan and O.A.R. through many industry reopening that includes a special logo, the 2008 and 2019 ACC Men’s and safety plans. Over the last few marketing and social media to Basketball Tournaments What changes did your venue months, we have gathered indus- recognize this milestone, while and NCAA Men’s Basketball make or get started on before try best practices to compile our also looking ahead to additional Tournament action on four the shutdown? own building specific reopening activations once events come occasions as well as the 2012 The Carolina Theatre was guide to provide a healthy and safe back live. Democratic National Conven- preparing for our busy spring environment for staff and guests The venue, which began as tion, its concerts have included season before the shutdown. when they are authorized to return Charlotte Bobcats Arena, be- U2, Billy Joel, Elton John, Justin March, April and May are some of to the Carolina Theatre. came Time Warner Cable Arena Timberlake, Bon Jovi, Bruce in April 2008 and transitioned Springsteen, Metallica, Jay-Z, to Spectrum Center in October Beyoncé, Paul McCartney and 2016 following Charter Com- Andrea Bocelli. munications’ purchase of Time New Kids on the Block has Warner Cable. The arena is played Spectrum Center five owned by the city and operated times, the most of any artist. by Hornets Sports & Enter- Others who have performed tainment. Home of the NBA’s four times include Bon Jovi, Charlotte Hornets, Spectrum Carrie Underwood, Fleetwood Center hosts about 150 events Mac, Jeff Dunham, Keith Urban annually, including professional and Taylor Swift. and collegiate sports, concerts, In the summer of 2016, Spec- family shows and conventions. trum Center added two sideline With 2017, 2018 and 2019 boards at 25.2 feet high by 42.8 THEATRE CAROLINA COURTESY ranking as the 19,000-seat feet wide and two baseline arena’s most successful for boards measuring 18 feet high non-basketball events in its by 31.3 feet wide. The cen- 15-year history, there is much ter-hung scoreboard features an to celebrate. Spectrum Center open-faced structure that allows held 50 non-basketball ticketed fans to see through to the score- events in 2019, with the percent- board’s “hive,” the cell pattern age of events where attendance cladding and branding within was greater than 10,000 hitting the board that connects the BULLISH IN DURHAM: The Carolina Theatre has a record high last year. screens, and serves as an artistic been busy with improvements during the shutdown. “What makes me the expression that represents the proudest is our building has home of the Hornets. 40 OCTOBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 41 “What make me the proudest is our building has had diverse events that hit all of the demographics.” — DONNA JULIAN “From a building standpoint, Facility Accreditation, becoming elections from Oct. 15-31. we’re always looking at ways to the first facility in North Caro- “For the first time, we’ll be a keep our facility updated,” Julian lina and the third NBA arena to polling site,” Julian said. “We’re said. “We’re now in the last stage achieve the standard. In order part of a huge voting initiative of a five-year capital improvement to receive the accreditation, that provides detailed informa- project that we worked with the Spectrum Center committed tion and makes voting accessible city on completing.” to instituting a comprehensive to everyone.” The project also included system of cleaning, disinfection Although in normal circum- switching the locations of the box and infectious disease prevention stances, Spectrum Center’s office (now on the Trade Street that follows the program’s criteria celebration would include a Plaza) and Hornets Fan Shop in 20 core elements, including tie-in to an event or kickoff, (now in the Main Lobby), reno- risk assessment and mitigation, the marketing campaign will vating all restaurants/hospitality standard operating procedures, highlight feedback from guests, GETTY IMAGES spaces/suites, and upgrading personal protective equipment, season-ticket holders and staff to all locker rooms and event level personnel training, and emergen- mark the occasion. spaces. cy preparedness and response. “We will be celebrating our In mid-September, Spectrum It was also recently announced 15th year the entire year,” Julian Center received the Global that Spectrum Center will host said. “And we are looking forward Biorisk Advisory Council’s Star early voting for the November to the next 15 years.” 42 OCTOBER 2020.