Charlotte Hornets President Fred Whitfield Departing Organization, Leaving Storied Legacy
Hornets Sports & Entertainment recently announced that President & Vice Chairman Fred Whitfield will be stepping down after serving the organization for more than 17 years. Whitfield led the organization through various phases of growth throughout those years.
“We thank Fred for all he has done for our organization and for the role he has played in helping get our ownership group up to speed over the last several months,” said HSE Co-Chairmen Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin.
When Whitfield first joined the organization in 2006, the team was known as the Bobcats which was later renamed the Charlotte Hornets.
He later worked to re-brand the Charlotte Bobcats Arena to the Spectrum Center and end the broadcast partnership with naming rights partner Time Warner Cable before entering into a more effective broadcast rights deal with FOX Sports. Whitfield also oversaw the launch of the Greensboro Swarm and Hornets Venom GT.
Under Whitfield’s leadership, the organization secured renovations and a lease extension for Spectrum Center, reached long-term agreements with Ticketmaster to serve as the arena’s ticketing provider and Live Nation to book entertainment. Additionally, under Whitfield's watch, Spectrum Center hosted the 2012 Democratic National Convention, 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend and 2019 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, as well as the Jumpman Invitational that debuted in December 2022 and will return December 19-20 and multiple rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
As he departs the organization, Whitfield will most notably be known for his soft spoken nature which allowed him to connect with fans on all levels. That aspect accentuated by his years of giving back to youth across the Carolina region. And his Hoop-Tee event to benefit youth was yet another extension of how Whitfiled used his platform as a team executive to help young people from challenging circumstances hone their basketball skills and also learn core life principles and find alternatives for a better life.
