As the NBA prepares to change back to its old basketball and perennial All-Star Allen Iverson prepares to change teams, preparations continue to convert the Thomas & Mack Center into the world's biggest television studio.

With the league's All-Star Weekend just two months away, the planning goes on as the NBA's staff works with the Thomas & Mack to have the building ready.

"Basically, this is a TV show where a basketball game breaks out," Thomas & Mack director Daren Libonati said. "The NBA has very high standards and we're doing everything we can to help meet those standards. We're using every square foot available to make it happen."

The first All-Star voting results will be announced today. Voting continues until Jan. 21. The starters for the Feb. 18 All-Star Game will be announced Jan. 25, with reserves being announced Feb. 1.

While the voting continues, events connected to the All-Star Weekend have begun.

A countdown clock at McCarran International Airport has been running since voting began Nov. 13.

On Tuesday, potential performers for the All-Star Weekend auditioned at Mandalay Bay.

On Wednesday, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman led thousands of volunteers who have signed up to work the NBA's Jam Session at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center while at James Cashman Middle School, former NBA players Bob Lanier and Jerome Williams met with students who will attend the Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam on Feb. 16 as guests of the NBA.

Rossi Ralenkotter, president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said things are beginning to pick up as far as interest goes.

"Everything's right on target," Ralenkotter said. "We're very pleased with all our branding opportunities. Our partnering with the NBA on its Europe Live tour this fall was a huge success.

"We continue to meet with the NBA and fine-tune everything. But right now, everything's moving along just fine."

While the league prepares for its showcase weekend, Las Vegas hotels and nightclubs are also making preparations. In addition to the All-Star Game, it's also Chinese New Year as well as Presidents weekend, traditionally a busy time in the city. Hotels are charging premium prices and the nightclubs are planning to do the same.

An MGM-Mirage spokesperson said details are still being worked on for what the clubs on their properties will charge. At the Palms, which will be a magnet for partiers because it also serves as the players' hotel, Rain, Moon, Ghostbar and the Playboy Lounge figure to charge premium prices.

When asked if he was concerned about potential price gouging, Ralenkotter said, "The pricing is all about supply and demand. We're going to have a lot of visitors in town for a lot of reasons. It's going to be very busy. Each property ultimately determines what price it will charge."

Other than new lighting and an air conditioning system -- two projects that would have taken place regardless of whether the NBA came to Las Vegas -- Libonati said no major capital improvements have been made to the Thomas & Mack to accommodate the All-Star Game.

The 23-year-old arena normally seats 18,500 for basketball, but will have its capacity reduced by nearly 2,000 for the All-Star Game. "We've done our usual maintenance and if you watch on TV, you won't notice a difference in terms of the building,'' Libonati said.

"Outside, we're going to brighten things. The NBA will be bringing in some decorations and signage, so things will look different there."