Play Charlotte: Why Charlotte Bars Should Put the Hornets On

From the Bring Back the Buzz archive, combining our 2014 Play Charlotte launch and our 2017 follow-up.

Every Hornets fan knows the feeling: you walk into a Charlotte bar with 15 TVs and the Hornets are on one of them, in the corner, behind a pole. We've been fighting that since 2014. Looking for a spot right now? Skip ahead to our guide to Charlotte bars that show Hornets games.

2014: the birth of Play Charlotte

At Bring Back the Buzz we spent a long time brainstorming how to change the culture at local sports bars and restaurants. By culture, we mean a venue's willingness to support its local teams, and do it proudly. That's where Play Charlotte came from: a way to help Charlotteans find bars and restaurants that show the games of Charlotte's teams. From the feedback, we weren't the only ones who felt this way. Heist Brewery signed on as our first partner.

2017: motocross over the Hornets

In January 2017, we went to a well-known Charlotte restaurant to eat and watch the Hornets play the Spurs. (We won't name it. Twitter handled that.) The main room had more than 15 TVs, and exactly one had the Hornets on, across the room behind several poles. We asked if one of the six TVs right next to us, all showing the same NFL playoff game, could be switched. The manager said no. So we moved tables.

Five minutes later, that same TV was switched... to motocross. The final count: nine TVs on NFL playoffs, two on motocross, two on Arkansas-Kentucky, and one on the CHARLOTTE Hornets.

It had gotten better since the Hornets name came back, but it still happened, and it baffled us. A year earlier, local businesses were on the news talking about the economic boost from the All-Star Game, yet some wouldn't accommodate Charlotte Hornets fans. You can't have it both ways. Small market isn't an excuse anymore.

How fans changed the culture

Play Charlotte did two things: called out places that wouldn't support local teams, and showcased the ones that were Hornets fan friendly. That idea is still at the heart of what we do. It's why The Local hosts a TEALgate before every home game, and why our away-game watch parties come with free food for members.

Where to watch the Hornets in Charlotte now

Good news: it's a lot easier in 2026. Check our guide to Charlotte bars that show Hornets games, and see our 2026-27 TV, streaming and radio guide. And if you own a bar that's all in on the Hornets, we'd love to hear from you: partner with us.