What started as a simple tribute to a late longtime radio listener has turned into what WFNZ-AM 610 radio personality Mark Packer calls a "celebration of basketball in Charlotte."

Packer decided to challenge listeners of his show ? and Charlotte-area residents in general ? to attend tonight?s Hornets vs. Pacers game after a caller to his show wondered if there was a way to pay tribute to 17-year-old Jeff Grey.

Grey, a senior at Vance High School who called into the show as "Indiana Jones, Jr.," was an avid Indiana Pacers fan who died in an automobile accident Nov. 24, 2001.

Tonight?s 7:30 game against the Pacers is the Hornets? first home game against Indiana this season.

"A Charlotte Shindig" will feature a pregame radio show at Jock?s & Jill?s restaurant, a presentation to the late listener?s family and what Packer hopes will be a larger than usual crowd at the Charlotte Coliseum.

"I have no idea what the crowd will be like, according to what the Hornets are telling me," said Packer, host of WFNZ?s daily "Prime Time with the Packman" show. "But the response on the show and from the e-mails I?ve received has been great. I hope it?s one of the all-time walk-up sales in Hornets? history.

"I just want this to be like the old days when the Coliseum was rocking every night. How that will translate into ticket sales, I don?t know?"

The Hornets organization has been put in a bit of a quandary over the celebration since Packer has taken team owners George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge to task virtually since his show first aired in 1998.

Hornets officials have declined comment or support of Packer?s event.

The Hornets have a radio exclusivity agreement with rival station WBT-AM 1110 and its counterpart WBT-FM 99.3.

Packer admits he understands the team?s stance and even offers praise to the franchise ? and team executive vice president of business Sam Russo in particular.

Russo has donated thousands of tickets to Packer?s "Jam Pack," which is a charity group that gives away tickets for local sporting events to underprivileged children.

Part of Packer?s celebration will include a presentation of an autographed Pacers? game ball to Grey?s mother Angelia Grey.

And after Packer?s radio show ends tonight at 7, he will make 12 friends and family of the late caller his personal guests at the game.

They will include Grey?s mother Angelia, his father Jeffrey Sr. and his sisters Tracey and Tiana.

A Hornets official said ticket sales couldn?t be determined late Thursday afternoon.

But, the spokesperson said, "There hasn?t been any kind of unusual increase for a Friday night home game."

Charlotte has averaged a franchise-low 11,396 fans per home game this season, and has exceeded 12,000 fans only seven times in 24 home dates this season.

In the franchise?s previous 13 seasons, only once did the franchise draw less than 12,000 for a home game.

Get tickets to tonight?s game by calling either 704-357-0252 or 1-800-4NBATIX.