December 14, 2015 – The Charlotte Hornets announced today that the team has reached a multi-year agreement with Grant Thornton LLP to become the Official Accounting Firm of the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets and Grant Thornton will enter into a multi-year advertising arrangement that includes the re-naming of the Crown Club as the “Grant Thornton Crown Club.” The agreement is the franchise’s first in the accounting category.
Grant Thornton will provide accounting services for Hornets Sports & Entertainment. The firm will also enter into an entitlement agreement for the recently renovated and renamed Crown Club, which is an exclusive lounge area located on Time Warner Cable Arena’s event level for Hardwood Club, Courtside and Inner Circle Club ticket holders.
“This is a very attractive relationship for us,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield. “When we redid the Crown Club over the summer, we did so with the thought of having an entitlement agreement. Grant Thornton was one of several parties that showed early interest in that and we ultimately came to an agreement that we believe will be extremely beneficial to both sides. We also look forward to working with Grant Thornton’s professionals as they take over our accounting needs.
“We’re pleased that the Hornets chose us to be their official accounting firm,” said Dave Wedding, Grant Thornton’s Carolinas managing partner and chairman of the firm’s Partnership Board. “Like the Hornets, Grant Thornton has a proud heritage in the Carolinas, and we’re committed to helping the Hornets achieve quality – on and off the court,” he added.
Additional elements of the agreement include the right to use marks and logos, courtside and LED signage within Time Warner Cable Arena and digital advertising on hornets.com, as well as hospitality and experiential components.
About Grant Thornton
Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. In the United States, Grant Thornton has revenue in excess of $1.4 billion and operates 57 offices with more than 500 partners and 6,400 employees. Grant Thornton works with a broad range of dynamic publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations.