Charlotte Bobcats owner Robert Johnson is looking to the NCAA for a revenue boost for the NBA expansion team's planned $200 million arena.
The Bobcats, in conjunction with the University of North Carolina Charlotte, are bidding to host regional games of either the 2007 or 2008 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the 18,500-seat facility. The building is scheduled to open in late 2005.
Johnson's arena deal calls for the city of Charlotte to own the facility, with the Bobcats operating it. As a result, Johnson has been aggressively seeking to attract as many events, and as much revenue, as possible to offset the record $300 million expansion fee he paid to bring the NBA back to Charlotte.
The Bobcats, who will share the arena with the WNBA Charlotte Sting, already have reached a deal to host the 2008 ACC men's basketball tournament at the facility and are talking with the NBA about hosting a future All-Star Game. Team officials said they are talking with the ECHL Charlotte Checkers and have had some contact with the AFL Carolina Cobras about moving into the new facility, as well.
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"We're going to look to put events in the arena year-round, from pro basketball to college basketball to all types of other entertainment," said Chris Weiller, executive vice president of corporate affairs for the Bobcats.
Judy Rose, director of athletics for UNC Charlotte, said the school and the Bobcats would each receive approximately 10 percent of gross ticket sales from hosting an NCAA regional.
If the request for regional tournament games is rejected, the bid also asks for the rights to host first- and second-round tournament games in either 2007 or 2008.
Johnson's ability to bring additional events to the new arena is also a key element of the programming strategy for his planned regional sports network. The Bobcats and Sting will serve as the foundation for the 24-hour network.
