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Grady Cole Center Tickets

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About Grady Cole Center

The Grady Cole Center is a small civic arena located at 310 North Kings Drive on CPCC's Central Campus in Uptown Charlotte. With a flexible configuration that has hosted concerts, community events, and sports such as Charlotte Roller Derby, this venue offers an intimate setting with a capacity reported around 2,500 seats (some configurations may reach up to 3,000). The venue carries a deep history, including notable events from the 1960s to today, and remains an active hub for culture and community in Charlotte.

Whether you’re coming for a concert, a community gathering, or a sports event, we’ve got you covered with practical details on seating, parking, transportation, and nearby hotel and dining options to help you plan your visit with ease.

Location and access: Grady Cole Center sits on the CPCC Central Campus in Uptown Charlotte, at 310 North Kings Drive, 28204. It’s well connected to downtown corridors and nearby neighborhoods, making it a convenient choice for a night out or a community event.

Seating: The arena-style floor features a flexible Center Court and a stage configuration. There is no single published seating chart for every event, as layouts vary by show, but the space supports a compact, energetic atmosphere for audiences up to about 2,500 seats (with some configurations shown closer to 3,000).

Parking: Parking on Central Campus is accessible via CPCC parking decks and lots nearby. Lot 5, located at 300 North Kings Drive, serves Parr Center and provides convenient access. CPCC notes that parking is free for Central Campus events, making a visit smoother for guests.

Transit: The venue is served by Charlotte’s CATS system and the CityLynx Gold Line, with stops at CPCC Central Campus, offering an easy option for riders traveling from across the city into Uptown Charlotte.

Nearby hotels and dining: Central Uptown hotels within a short radius include Homewood Suites Uptown Charlotte, Dunhill Hotel, Hyatt House Charlotte Downtown, Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown, Courtyard by Marriott Charlotte Downtown, and Charlotte Marriott Center City. For convenient dining before or after events, consider nearby steakhouses, bistros, and casual eateries—an insider favorite is to pair a pre-show meal with a stroll around Uptown’s vibrant dining scene. We highlight partner recommendations for hotels and dining to simplify your planning.

Notable history: Grady Cole Center hosted a range of historic events, from the MLK Jr. speech in 1960 to UFC 3 in 1994 and the CIAA women’s volleyball tournament in 2007. The venue, formerly known as Charlotte Park Center (1956–1987), was renamed in 1987 in honor of WBT Radio personality Grady Cole and continues to serve as a versatile, community-focused venue.

Good to know

Seating, Parking & Venue Information

  • Address and location: 310 North Kings Drive, Charlotte, NC 28204; located on the CPCC Central Campus in Uptown Charlotte.
  • Venue type: Small civic center/indoor arena, part of Mecklenburg County’s Sportsplex; serves as a venue for concerts, community events, and home to Charlotte Roller Derby.
  • Capacity: Reported as about 2,500 seats (some sources list up to 3,000 depending on configuration).
  • Seating chart: No official public seating chart widely published; facility-tour visuals show a Center Court and a Stage configuration.
  • Parking: Parking on Central Campus with CPCC parking decks and lots nearby; Lot 5 at 300 North Kings Drive services Parr Center; CPCC indicates parking is free for Central Campus events.
  • Transit: Serviced by Charlotte CATS/CityLynx Gold Line via CPCC Central Campus (central Uptown transit access).
  • Nearby hotels: Uptown Charlotte hotels within a short radius include Homewood Suites Uptown, Dunhill Hotel, Hyatt House Charlotte Downtown, Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown, Courtyard Marriott Charlotte Downtown, and Charlotte Marriott Center City.
  • Notable events hosted: MLK Jr. speech (Sept 25, 1960), UFC 3 (1994), CIAA women's volleyball tournament (2007), Barstool Sports' Rough-N-Rowdy 3 (2018), plus a history of major concerts in the 1970s–2000s.
  • Renamed: Originally the Charlotte Park Center (1956–1987); renamed Grady Cole Center in 1987 in honor of WBT Radio personality Grady Cole. No demolition has occurred.