The city is small enough that if you stay anywhere "uptown" then you will be in walking distance to the tournament, bars, etc.

The city really comes alive at night (after 9pm) so you can just walk down Tryon St. or College St. and find a bar you like best. The city center is the intersection of Trade St. and Tryon St. If you go go North on Tryon or College Sts. from there, you will hit the nightlife.

The Marriot Uptown is at the pefect Center for all of this.

I'm sorry - I had to chuckle...the city really comes alive after 9:00.....oh yes...just listen to the sirens! LOL.

Here are some options for hanging out/eating/having fun :)

Ri-Ra Irish Pub is awesome. http://www.rira.com/charlotte/home.html

I haven't been to Can's yet, but I just moved here and it is definitely on my list :) for a fun night out. I have heard good things... http://www.cansbar.com/charlotte/

There is a new light rail that goes right through the city, and stops right in front of the Bobcats arena, so you can take that a couple of exits down to Bland Street to get to a place called Jillian's.http://www.jillians.com/.

If I were you guys, I would stay right next to the arena and walk/take the light rail to food/nightlife. The crowd will be young and lively because of the tournament, so you should have a lot of fun! There aren't any parks that I know of uptown, so you would have to drive for that one. Reedy Creek Park is nice and has a frisbee gold course, which is fun. http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Park+and+Rec/Parks/Parks+By+District/Northeast+District/ReedyCreekPK.htm

Have fun!

Thank you both for the replies, this will certainly help us out a lot!!!!

:)