The Charlotte Bobcats will hold their inaugural NBA Draft Party on Thursday, June 24 at the Charlotte Coliseum. Fans in attendance will witness history as the team selects its first-ever NBA draft picks and the announcement of the player will be given to the fans in attendance before it is broadcast on national television. The Bobcats own the fourth pick in the first round and also in the second round (33rd overall).

“This will be a momentous day in our franchise’s young history and we want our fans to be as big a part of this milestone as possible,” Tapscott said. “In addition to learning who our pick is before anyone else, we will have a wide array of Bobcats-themed entertainment and activities to help tip-off this important moment in our history.”

The free event, including parking on the premises, opens to fans beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a tailgate party outside of the Coliseum, featuring free food and drink samples. A live remote with prizes from WSOC FM radio, the Budweiser True Music Lounge and the NBA Jam Van, with 8,000 square feet of free basketball and interactive off-court activities, will be available.

The first 5,000 fans to enter the Coliseum when the doors open at 6:30 p.m. will receive a commemorative Draft Party t-shirt. Once inside the Coliseum, fans will be able to watch ESPN’s live broadcast of the NBA Draft beginning with a half-hour pre-draft special at 7 p.m., followed by the 2004 NBA Rookie Draft show at 7:30 p.m. MIX 106.1 FM, the official radio flagship station of the Charlotte Bobcats, will also be hosting a live draft special from inside the arena.

The draft party will feature some of the newly-selected players chosen from the Charlotte Expansion Selection participating in an autograph session, plus live on-court entertainment by the mascot Rufus Lynx and the first-ever performances by the newly-selected Bobcats Dance Team and interactive squad. Fans will also be treated to a special address from majority owner Robert L. Johnson and General Manager and Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff.

Throughout the evening, the arena will be open for fans to purchase season tickets for the 2004-05 season and select their seats. The Bobcats inaugural season will be played at the Charlotte Coliseum before the team makes its home in the new Uptown Charlotte Arena in the fall of 2005. Available seats will be tagged and able to be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis with a $100 deposit per seat. Among the benefits for season ticket holders are priority seating for the new Uptown Arena and the opportunity for a FREE Seat License.