CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The NBA announced today that Charlotte has been selected to host NBA All-Star 2017.  The 66^th annual game will take place at Time Warner Cable Arena, home of the Hornets, on Sunday, Feb. 19.  The 2017 game will mark the second NBA All-Star celebration in Charlotte, which hosted the event in 1991.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made the announcement this morning during a press conference at Time Warner Cable Arena, where he was joined by Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, Mecklenburg County Commission Chairman Trevor Fuller, Hornets President & COO Fred Whitfield, and Hornets Chairman Michael Jordan, who was the leading scorer of the 1991 NBA All-Star Game at the Charlotte Coliseum.

“As a thriving city with a proud basketball tradition and a deep passion for the game, the city of Charlotte is a terrific All-Star destination,” said Silver.  “We thank Michael Jordan, the Hornets organization and the Charlotte community for their support and congratulate them on bringing our All-Star festivities back to North Carolina.”

“It is an honor to bring NBA All-Star back to Charlotte,” Jordan said.  “I remember the excitement of playing in the 1991 All-Star Game, the first one held in my home state, and I take pride in being able to host NBA All-Star 2017 as the owner of the Hornets.  This is a great moment for our fans, our city, and our franchise.  We are excited to welcome the world to Charlotte and Time Warner Cable Arena in 2017.”

The oncourt festivities in Time Warner Cable Arena will tip off Friday, Feb. 17, with the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, where the league’s best rookies and sophomores compete in a U.S. versus World five-on-five format.  On Saturday, Feb. 18, State Farm All-Star Saturday Night will feature thrilling basketball competitions starring current NBA and WNBA players as well as NBA legends.  The slate of events includes Degree Shooting Stars, which showcases NBA and WNBA players, as well as legends; the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, where top guards compete head-to-head in a series of passing, shooting, and agility drills; Foot Locker Three-Point Contest; and the Slam Dunk Contest.  The weekend concludes on Sunday with the Sprint Pregame Concert followed by the NBA All-Star Game.

“We are thrilled to be named the host of NBA All-Star 2017,” said Mayor Clodfelter.  “This is an incredible opportunity to showcase Charlotte internationally as a city that excels as host to a variety of large-scale sports, entertainment, and arts events.  We look forward to working with the Hornets and our other partners to give the ‘Queen City’ welcome to the many team representatives, visitors, and residents who will participate in the All-Star 2017 festivities.”

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.

NBA All-Star Game 2017 will be televised in prime time on TNT for the 15^th consecutive year and mark the 32^nd year that Turner Sports has provided NBA All-Star coverage.  The game will be broadcast worldwide in more than 200 countries and territories and in more than 40 languages.

NBA All-Star 2015 in New York included the highest-scoring All-Star Game in NBA history, an electrifying performance from Sprite Slam Dunk champion Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and a star-studded Foot Locker Three-Point Contest won by 2014-15 Kia Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.  NBA All-Star 2016 will take place in Toronto, the first NBA All-Star to be held outside the United States.

The 1991 All-Star Game produced a dramatic finish at the Charlotte Coliseum, where the East edged the West 116-114.  The Philadelphia 76ers’ Charles Barkley finished with 17 points and 22 rebounds to earn MVP honors, while Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls scored a game-high 26 points and current Hornets associate head coach Patrick Ewing added 18 points for the East while representing the New York Knicks.  A crowd of more than 23,000 witnessed the final All-Star appearances of Boston Celtics legends Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.  NBA All-Star 1991 also included Celtics rookie Dee Brown’s memorable victory in the Slam Dunk contest and Bulls guard Craig Hodges’ record-setting performance in the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest.

Time Warner Cable Arena, which has welcomed more than 13 million guests since opening in 2005, has played host to entertainment giants such as Beyoncé, The Rolling Stones, and Taylor Swift, in addition to hosting the 2012 Democratic National Convention and the NCAA and ACC basketball tournaments.  The premier destination for sports and entertainment in the Carolinas, Time Warner Cable Arena hosts over 150 sporting events, concerts and family shows annually.