Charlotte Bobcats And City Of Charlotte Celebrate Topping Out Milestone Of New Charlotte Arena Construction

The Charlotte Bobcats and the City of Charlotte recently hosted a “topping out” ceremony as a 35-foot steel beam was put into place near the top of the New Charlotte Arena, marking a pivotal construction milestone for the facility that is scheduled to open this November.

“With the completion of the steel superstructure, we have moved one step closer to the completion of the New Charlotte Arena as a premier entertainment facility,” said Barry Silberman, executive vice president of arena development, operations and entertainment for the New Charlotte Arena, which is owned by the City of Charlotte and will be managed by the Charlotte Bobcats organization. “We are tracking on schedule, assuring we will be prepared for our grand opening this fall.”

Construction on the New Charlotte Arena began in July 2003 with a public ground-breaking event and has progressed steadily since. The final piece of structural steel had been signed by city officials and Charlotte residents during recent months and was delivered to the arena’s construction site, where it was put in place to “top out” the new arena.

“It’s exciting to watch the arena begin to come to life,” said Marty Bechtold, senior vice president event booking and marketing for the New Charlotte Arena, which will host professional and college sporting events, family entertainment and a variety of concert tours. “You can already see the convenience of the facility’s layout and envision how it will have the flexibility to meet the varying needs of different touring entities. There is no doubt that the New Charlotte Arena is going to be a first-class facility enjoyed by both performers and visitors.”

Bechtold said they already started accepting booking dates for tours and events, and the New Charlotte Arena is offering arena site visits for agents and touring entertainment providers.

The New Charlotte Arena opens in November 2005 and will be home to the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats and the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting. The state-of-the-art facility is located in the heart of Charlotte, N.C., with more than 4,000 hotel rooms within walking distance. The arena, which will have seating configurations for audiences ranging from 4,000 to 18,500, will feature restaurants, retail and a range of visitor-friendly amenities. It is adjacent to the city’s light rail corridor and is just a few miles from Interstates 77 and 85. For booking information contact Marty Bechtold of the New Charlotte Arena at (704) 329-4909 or mbechtold@bobcatsbasketball.com.