Ok, so here's the deal: my wife and I are planning a trip to watch the Bobcats play live. I've never been to a sporting event in Charlotte before, so I need your help in giving me the inside information on which hotels, restaurants, etc. would be the best choices for me and the wife to enjoy ourselves while we're in the Queen City.

We're not planning on going until after the first of the year, but we will be going to a Saturday night game for sure. If you've been to a game at Time Warner Cable Arena, what are the best hotels near the arena? Please keep in mind that I'm not like that dude on the Geico commercials who's made out of money, so I can't spend $300 for a hotel room. I just need something reasonably affordable that's close to the arena*.

Also, where is the best spot to get some food before and/or after the game? Obviously I know I can eat at a place like Bojangles, but I'd like to go somewhere that I can only go to if I'm in Charlotte if such a place exists near the arena*.

* When I say near the arena, I mean within 10-15 miles.

And finally, which seats are the best bang for the buck? I can't afford courtside seats so those are out of the question, but are the $10 seats so far up from the court that you can't see anything? Should I stick to the lower level seats, or should I just be cheap and sit in the rafters? I've never been to Time Warner Cable Arena, so I have no idea what I'm getting when I buy the tickets. Any information would be helpful in that regard.

Thanks for any help y'all can give me!