veggieburgher:
I am at the hotel next to the arena. I was at the show in 2005 and recall that everything was downtown (which isn't very far).
You are right about the downtown area. There is a Buzzard Billy's restaurant (cajun-type) just south of the arena 1-2 blocks. I don't think that was there in 2005. They are in the process of building a new hotel adjacent to part of the events center . . .too bad it wasn't done by now! Normally there is a skywalk that would take you from the events center to downtown BUT because of the new hotel construction, part of it is not usable (or so I read today). The good news about that is it will be July and not January! Did you come to the gathering we had at the spaghetti place in 2005? So is this your first soundcheck pkg or just first front row?