New Year...New Arena
by Debbie A. Crawford, MA, NCC
January, 2006

The birth of Uptown’s Charlotte Bobcats Arena has not been without controversy, but regardless of which side of the issue you fall, there is no denying the fact the Arena is here to stay and is making big changes in our community.

We thought it would be appropriate as we enter 2006 – the new year – to take a closer look at our new Arena and some of the new opportunities that await. And to try to uncover what benefits our new landmark has in store for our healthy-living, community-minded, active Charlotteans.

The Charlotte Bobcats Arena
In October of 2005, the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, built by the City of Charlotte and operated by the Charlotte Bobcats Organization, home to the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, the WNBA's Charlotte Sting and the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers, opened its doors to the Charlotte community. In addition to basketball, the Arena will host a number of charity and college tournaments as well as family events and concerts.

And this new facility is packed to the rafters will state-of-the art bells and whistles. Once inside, Arena visitors experience a wide array of amenities, including the largest scoreboard in any indoor entertainment venue in the country, with full-screen LED technology allowing an unlimited configuration of live and recorded video, scores, animation and graphics. And a one-of-a-kind 3-D backlit cityscape above the scoreboard featuring a changing Charlotte skyline.

Arena visitors also have an incredibly fresh and diverse concession selection, rising far above the usual hot dogs and beer. Levy Restaurants was brought on board to develop the arena’s food choices with a goal of catering to everyone's taste. Choices range from traditional food courts, mobile kiosks and various restaurants and lounges.

And to stay true to the Arts community in Charlotte, the Arena has incorporated a wonderful collection of unique and colorful public art that can be enjoyed through most of their main entryways.

The Bobcats’ Commitment to Community
Aside from building a first class facility, Arena management, the NBA’s Bobcats and WNBA’s Sting, have made a strong commitment to the community. They have taken a leadership role in furthering several charitable causes, with specific emphasis on literacy and education, health and fitness, and arts and culture, and have established a rich charitable fund providing grants to local organizations committed to making a better world for our children.

Through their literacy and education, the Bobcats organization hopes to foster a life-long love of reading in young people, proving great access to books and technology, and seeking partnerships with community groups focused on literacy.

The Bobcats also believe strong that a healthy mind, body and spirit are the cornerstone of a productive and happy life. This belief manifests in enhancing character development programs, promoting wellness and fitness as a lifestyle, and using recreational basketball and the Jr. NBA Initiative as a vehicle to promote teamwork, enhance self-esteem, and foster goal setting in children.

As part of their on-going community relations endeavors, the Bobcats Charitable Foundation awards grants to deserving area organizations based on their commitment to the areas of literacy, fitness, wellness and exposure to the arts for our children.

This year, seven local charities were selected as the first-ever grant recipients including Gaston Literacy Council Reading Soul Mates, Community School of the Arts, Jewish Community Center Operation Jump Start Program, Presbyterian Hospital Foundation Healthy Adventures Program and A Child's Place.

The Checkers:
New Home and New Opportunity
The Charlotte Checkers Hockey Club is a member of the ECHL and an affiliate of the NHL New York Rangers and the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack. The team boasts an impressive roster of owners, including entrepreneur and NASCAR team owner, Felix Sabates and nationally recognized sports marketing guru Carl Scheer.

The fact that this minor league hockey team is playing in one of the finest professional sports facilities in the country with amenities that continue to thrill even multi-time visitors has only led to tremendous fan support for this young, aggressive hockey club. In fact, Checkers season ticket sales increased nearly six-fold this year with their move to Uptown.

One of the reasons contributing to this growth is the Checkers early-on promise to their loyal fan base: prices would remain much the same as they had been in their previous home. Parking considerations, such as cost and convenience, and security/safety measures for those who chose to walk a few blocks before-and-after hockey games were also a priority.

The fourteen members of the front office are deeply involved in a variety of civic and charitable organizations within Charlotte, and the team hosts a fundraising activity or program at every single home game.
This year the Checkers invited every elementary and middle school child in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Gaston County public schools to attend the November 25th Checkers game as guests of the club. Thousands of students came to that special game and had a ball.

The Checkers also host an annual Teddy Bear Toss, wherein fans are encouraged to bring new Teddy Bears to a designated Checkers game. When the home team scores its first goal, a horn sounds, the game clock is stopped, and thousands of fans hurl their Teddy Bears toward the center of the rink. The bears are collected, boxed, and delivered by players and coaches to Presbyterian Hemby Children’s Hospital.

Yes, the inception of the Arena has been loaded with controversy, but as mentioned earlier, it is here to stay. And it certainly appears that everyone inside its walls is committed to not only providing a wonderful state-of-the-art entertainment facility with tons of events aimed at enriching an array of experiences, but are also demonstrating a strong commitment to fans, to community, and to our kids.

As with many things that seem controversial on the surface, the act of peeling back a few layers and glancing at its core can often reveal a different picture. If you haven’t already, go ahead… take a closer look.