CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The countdown to tip-off is on! The Queen City and the first responders are all-star ready as basketball's stars and fans head to Charlotte for NBA All-Star weekend.

  • CMPD, Charlotte Fire, and Medic say it's "all hands on deck" this weekend
  • Charlotte Fire Battalion Chief Matt Westover says there are 300 events, both NBA sanctioned and unsanctioned
  • Road closures in Uptown will start Thursday night around 6 p.m.

Officials say 150,000 people are expected to come to Charlotte to see the stars of the NBA take center court at the Spectrum Center. 

CMPD, Charlotte Fire, and Medic say it's "all hands on deck" this weekend, as they work the largest sporting event the city has ever seen. 

Charlotte Fire Battalion Chief Matt Westover says there are 300 events, both NBA sanctioned and unsanctioned, happening this weekend. This means there will be more people around Uptown Charlotte, even when the game isn't happening. 

There will be 40 inspectors with the fire marshal's office working all weekend to make sure the parties don't get out of hand. 

"They'll be working with ALE as well as CMPD to ensure that as complaints come in, for either overcrowding or other code violations, that they'll be able to handle that," Westover said.

Many people may be searching for celebrities this weekend, but officials say we need to show them some southern hospitality. 

“We're not Hollywood, and we don't have paparazzi generally that are around Uptown Charlotte. You will certainly see some celebrities that are going to be coming to town. Just treat them with grace and courtesy and the southern charm that we're all accustomed to here," says Lt. Brad Koch with CMPD. 

Road closures in Uptown will start Thursday night around 6 p.m. CMPD says Trade St. and 5th St. immediately around the Spectrum Center will be closed until Monday morning.

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