I can't believe how this question is plastered all over the k2 and rockettheme forums.  The solution was too easy.... so maybe it will mess something up. 

We like to set up the new account and transfer the old site into the new account before we change the DNS settings.   Unfortunately, Hostgator does not allow Akeeba's Site Trasnfer Wizard to funstion without an actual domain name on the new account.