CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When the

CIAA Tournament

moves to Charlotte next season, fans will have to get use to a brand-new arena.

The new arena is a multimillion-dollar facility building on a thriving uptown just in time for the CIAA's arrival in 2006.

"We've got the restaurants. We've got the hotels and this convention center three blocks from the site for get-togethers, parties or anything else folks want to make of it," said Tim Newman, of the Charlotte Visitors Authority.

The arena will feature everything from a scoreboard that is three stories tall to all things wireless.

"That will give us the ability looking into the future to take on any type of new emerging technology," said Barry Silberman, arena vice-president.

The sprawling arena covers about nine acres with a capacity of more than 20,000. The structures that anchor the main building will provide plenty of space for the customary fan interaction and the ever-popular Vendors Pavilion.

"We have a practice court, which is on the east side of the building that would be a very good space. The concourse that we have were built very wide to accommodate the crowds comfortably," said Ed Tapscott, vice-president of the Charlotte Bobcats.

The new arena is on schedule to be completed by the fall, just in time for the Bobcats' second season in the NBA.