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The NBA announced Wednesday that Charlotte will host the 2019 All-Star Game after this year's midseason event was moved to New Orleans because of a North Carolina state law restricting the rights of LGBT people. The All-Star weekend festivities are set for Feb. 15-17, 2019, with the 68th NBA All-Star Game taking place at Spectrum Center, home of the Hornets.
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"For three decades, the NBA has had a home in Charlotte," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "Generations of families have attended games there, and fans from many different walks of life have come together to share a passion for a team that is an anchor in the community.
"We have decided to award NBA All-Star 2019 to Charlotte based on this deep connection and the belief that we can honor our shared values of equality and inclusion, and we are excited to bring the All-Star Game back to Charlotte for the first time in 28 years."
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in March signed a compromise bill that repealed House Bill 2, but banned local governments from passing anti-discrimination ordinances for three years.
"While we understand the concerns of those who say the repeal of HB2 did not go far enough, we believe the recent legislation eliminates the most egregious aspects of the prior law," Silver said. "Additionally, it allows us to work with the leadership of the Hornets organization to apply a set of equality principles to ensure that every All-Star event will proceed with open access and anti-discrimination policies. All venues, hotels and businesses we work with during All-Star will adhere to these policies as well.
"Sports have a long history of helping to change attitudes around important social issues. We believe holding our All-Star activities in Charlotte will be a powerful way for the NBA to continue this tradition."
The league pulled the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte in response at the time to North Carolina's law that mandated transgender people use public restrooms corresponding to the sex listed on their birth certificates.
Hornets owner and chairman Michael Jordan thanked Silver in a statement for the league's decision to bring back the All-Star Game to Charlotte.
"We are thrilled the league has awarded NBA All-Star 2019 to the city of Charlotte," Jordan said Wednesday. "We want to thank Commissioner Silver for his leadership throughout this process and for the decision to bring NBA All-Star back to Buzz City.
"All-Star Weekend is an international event that will provide a tremendous economic impact to our community while showcasing our city, our franchise and our passionate Hornets fan base to people around the world. We look forward to serving as hosts for NBA All-Star 2019 and welcoming all visitors and guests to Spectrum Center."
