Simone Biles and Co. have just crossed the halfway mark of what’s been a grand edition of the Gold Over America Tour so far. From sold-out arenas to an appearance on America’s Got Talent, the gymnastics icon from Team USA continues to dazzle audiences nationwide. Following tonight’s show in Michael Phelps’ hometown of Baltimore, the squad will head to Charlotte, North Carolina. The Gold Over America tour is not only a major attraction but also one of the first significant events at the venue, ahead of performances by stars like Justin Timberlake and Shakira in the last quarter of 2024.

There, the Gold Over America Tour roster will perform at one of the state’s most renowned venues, the Spectrum Center. The newly renovated, state-of-the-art home of Charlotte’s own NBA team will act as the perfect stage for Biles and her fellow gymnasts. The arena’s 18,500 seating capacity makes it a perfect choice to house a large crowd of gymnastics fans. However, there’s a lot more to Spectrum Center than meets the eye.

Learn about the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets’ home, Spectrum Center

Built on a budget exceeding $260 million, the venue opened in 2005 as the home of the Charlotte Hornets, though it wasn’t always known as the Spectrum Center. When it first opened its doors to basketball fans, the arena was called the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Now, nearly two decades later, it is set to host Simone Biles and her Gold Over America tour on October 9, showcasing how the venue has evolved into a major entertainment hub.

The name Charlotte Bobcats Arena only lasted for three years before Time Warner Cable purchased the naming rights in 2008, rebranding it as Time Warner Cable Arena. In 2016, Charter Communications acquired Time Warner Cable, taking over the naming rights and renaming the venue Spectrum Center. Since then, the Spectrum Center has been the official home of the Charlotte Hornets, continuing to host a variety of high-profile events, including concerts and sports.

However, despite the three name changes, something remained the same. Unlike many other stadiums, the Spectrum Center was built with a core theme in mind. The architects who built the facility wanted its design to reflect a sense of community, with artwork that paid homage to both South and North Carolina. The signage that welcomes people into the arena is the perfect example.

“Greetings from Charlotte, Gateway to the Corners of the Carolinas” reads the message above the arena’s box office. The design also features “Open walkways, terraces, and exposed staircases encourage conversation between arena guests” according to the official website. Besides the Charlotte Hornets, Spectrum Center is also famous for hosting NCAA Basketball tournaments.

In fact, earlier this year, the venue held multiple rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. However, Simone Biles and Co. are laying the ground for a different phase of the events at the landmark venue.

Big musical acts to follow Simone Biles-led GOAT

Besides the Charlotte Hornets and NCAA basketball action, the Spectrum Center has hosted some impressive events in 2024 so far. The year started with a treat for wrestling fans when WWE Smackdown came to Charlotte on February 9, 2024. However, sports events at the venue will take a back seat for the rest of 2024, with just one more game between the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat on October 26.

However, music lovers in Charlotte are in for a treat. After Simone Biles and Co. big musical acts such as Usher, Iron Maiden, Justin Timberlake, and Shakira will grace the venue. First up is R&B icon Usher, wholly bringing his Past, Present, Future Tour to the venue on October 22 and 23. Then heavy metal pioneers Iron Maiden will take the stage on November 13 with The Future Past World Tour 2024.

The second big act for November 2024 will be Justin Timberlake on November 14. This is the second time Timberlake will follow Simone and Co. to a venue. Before arriving in Charlotte, Timberlake will bring The Forget Tomorrow World Tour to Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center on October 11. The Gold Over America Tour graced the Wells Fargo Center on October 4.

Finally, three-time Grammy Award winner Shakira will grace Spectrum Center on November 23, with her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran – World Tour. So, it seems that Simone Biles and Co. will kick off a more fun set of events at Spectrum Center rather than high-octane basketball action. So will you be catching any of the upcoming shows at Spectrum Center, including Gold Over America? Tell us in the comments.