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Hornets to begin NBA season without fans at Spectrum Center

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Hornets will play home games at the Spectrum Center without fans when the 2020-21 NBA season begins, the team announced on Monday.

In a new release, the organization said it had consulted with state and local government officials, and health and safety was its top priority.

“We will continue to work with state and local health officials, as well as the NBA, to develop a plan that will allow fans to return to Spectrum Center in both a safe and timely manner. We are optimistic that conditions will improve in the coming months and hope to be able to have fans in attendance later in the season,” the statement read.

The Hornets are scheduled to play four preseason games this month, including two home matchups against the Toronto Raptors Dec. 12 and Dec. 14.

The team will travel to Florida to play the Orlando Magic on Dec. 17 and Dec. 19.

Television channel listings can be found here.

ESPN announced earlier this month that the NBA will be releasing the 2020-21 schedule in two halves – what the league is calling the First Half and the Second Half.

The schedule for the First Half of the season, which will run from Dec. 22 to March 4, will be released around the start of training camp, set for Dec. 1.

The league won’t release the schedule for the Second Half until later in the First Half.

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