2008 NCAA Tournament East Regional

Charlotte has had a huge spotlight on it this year as the CIAA Tournament and the ACC Tournament have hit center stage in the Queen City. But now Charlotte will play host to the Big Kahuna of the college basketball world, the NCAA Tournament, when the East Regionals come to town March 27-29. And for those who may not know, the regional rounds of the tournament include the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8. Tickets for these intense, action-packed tournament games were sold out months ago, but that doesn't mean you can't get in on the action. The city will be bustling with fan fests, live music and all sorts of action surrounding the NCAA Tournament.

If you were fortunate enough to secure seats in Charlotte Bobcats Arena for this event at a whopping $142 per session, here is a local guide to some other sites Charlotte has to offer while you're in town:

The Venue

Charlotte Bobcats Arena
333 E. Trade St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-688-6500
All games will be played at Charlotte Bobcats Arena in the heart of Uptown.

The Games

Men's Basketball Open Practice
While you may not be able to get a seat for one of the games, you can most certainly watch your favorite teams and perhaps some of the sports' future greats at this free practice session held the day before the games begin.
Wednesday, March 26
12 - 4 p.m.
Charlotte Bobcats Arena
FREE and open to the public

Game Days
Thursday, March 27

• 7:27 p.m. - (1) North Carolina vs. (4) Washington State
• 9:57 p.m. - (2) Tennessee vs. (3) Louisville

Visit About.com's East Region bracket for a breakdown of games and teams.

Where to Watch

Charlotte has no shortage of sports bars. In fact, here is a list of some of Charlotte's best places to watch a game. But, if you're looking for locations specifically near the action in Uptown, here is a list of local pubs including their proximity to the arena:

• Buckhead Saloon, 201 E. 5th St. - 0.6 miles
• Dixie's Tavern, 301 E. 7th St. - 0.7 miles
• Graduate Food & Pub, 123 W. Trade St. - 0.8 miles
• Picasso's Sports Cafe, 222 S. Church St. - 0.8 miles
• Stool Pigeons, 214 N. Church St. - 0.8 miles
• Hartigan's, 601 S. Cedar St. - 1.0 miles
• Alexander Michael's, 401 W. 9th St. - 1.3 miles

Getting Around

As both the CIAA and ACC tournaments have proved this year, Uptown traffic and transportation during this time will be tricky at best. Visit these helpful maps of Charlotte to assist with navigating the streets and parking.

While the City of Charlotte provides free Uptown transportation in the form of the Gold Rush, a service of CATS, the high demand of the service is causing it to perform at a slower rate than normal. An excellent option is to park outside Center City and ride the Lynx light rail train into town, as one of its stops is Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

If you choose to drive into Uptown, be sure to allow plenty of extra time as many of the city's one-way streets will be jammed with every-day commuters as well as basketball fans. If you have other engagements Uptown such as dinner or a concert, please allow extra time for traffic and parking.