John Paul Jones Arena
Encyclopedia
John Paul Jones Arena, or JPJ, opened for the 2006–2007 NCAA Division I basketball season
and is located at the University of Virginia
in Charlottesville, Virginia
. It has seating for 14,593 fans, nearly twice the capacity of 8,457 at Virginia's previous facility, University Hall.
The design features pergolas on the outside to tie in the design with Scott Stadium
, UVA's football facility. This style is known as Jeffersonian architecture
, reminiscent of the many buildings designed by Thomas Jefferson
on UVa's grounds and nearby.
The arena is not named after the American naval hero
, or the Led Zeppelin
bassist
, rather it is named in honor of the father of Paul Tudor Jones, who donated $35 million for the construction of the arena. He earned a B.A.
in Economics
from the University in 1976. His father, John Paul Jones, is a 1948 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law
.
The arena plays host to not only basketball games, but a wide variety of concerts, performances and other events; for example, its opening season in 2006 includes events such as Cirque du Soleil
, Larry the Cable Guy
, The Wiggles
, Disney on Ice
& WWE
Monday Night Raw
.
Jimmy Buffett
made a stop here on his "Summerzcool" tour on November 17, 2009, his first stop in Charlottesville in two decades.
In addition to this, the arena has office space for SMG staff, the UVa athletics media relations department, video services and dining services. It also features coaches' offices, practice facilities and an extensive sports medicine facility for men's and women's basketball teams.
The arena's first event was Cirque du Soleil's Delirium
on Tuesday, August 1, 2006, but the official Grand Opening event was a two-night tour-ending stand by Charlottesville natives Dave Matthews Band
, September 22–23, 2006. An "open house" event for the local community was conducted on July 22, 2006.
In February 2007, the arena was awarded the title of "Best New Major Concert Venue" at Pollstar
's 18th Annual Concert Industry Awards.
In September 2010, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) will bring their Built Ford Tough Series
tour to JPJ Arena; prior to this, the arena had hosted an event on the PBR's Enterprise Tour (which was one of the PBR's minor league tours that was eventually combined with the other minor league tours to create the Touring Pro Division in 2010).
The University of Virginia opened the John Paul Jones Arena on November 12, 2006 with a pair of victories. The Virginia women's basketball team defeated Old Dominion University
92–72 in the afternoon. Later that evening in front of a capacity crowd of 15,219, the Virginia men's basketball team defeated #10 ranked Arizona
93–90, rallying from a 19 point first half deficit. Both games included elaborate pre-game festivities that featured a fireworks display and the Cavalier mascot rappelling from the rafters. Michael Buffer
was introduced to announce the Virginia starting lineup prior to men's game.
On February 1, 2007, the Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team defeated the #8 Duke Blue Devils
68–66 in overtime, marking their first win over Duke since February 2002. The Cavaliers trailed by eight points with 3:42 left in regulation but their defense held Duke without a field goal for the final 8:42 of the game, including all of overtime. With 24.8 seconds left in regulation, a Sean Singletary
15-footer forced the extra period; Singletary also hit the game-winning basket with one hand while falling backward with one second left in overtime. The win marked Virginia's fifth ACC victory in a row and ended Duke's own five-game winning streak.
On March 1, 2007, the men's basketball team defeated Virginia Tech
69–56, clinching a share of first place in the final ACC
regular season standings for the 2006–2007 season
. The victory marked the school-record 16th home win of the season, and the Cavaliers finished 16–1 for the season in their new arena. Furthermore, Virginia went an undefeated 8–0 in league games at home for the first time since the Hoos went 7–0 at home in 1982. Also at this game, the fans in attendance said goodbye to two 4th-year players, J. R. Reynolds and Jason Cain
, both of whom had contributed to the Virginia basketball program.
On December 5, 2009, Phish
played the final show of their 2009 Fall Tour at the arena. At the beginning of a first set "Ya Mar", an erratic fan proceeded to run on stage fully naked. He ran up and hugged Guitarist Trey Anastasio
and kissed him on the cheek. He made 3 laps around the stage before finally being run down by security. Anastasio proceeded by saying, "Let's hear it for the naked guy, pick him up, that took a lot of balls." Later on, the lyrics of "Ya Mar" stated "he was a naked pa", and "Run like an Antelope" was changed to "Run like a Naked Guy, Out of Control". The incident has since been the source of many Phish related jokes.
On September 8, 2010, Lady Gaga
played the arena on the second North American leg of her record-breaking, high grossing tour, The Monster Ball Tour
. It was one of Lady Gaga's first times performing in Virginia.
2006-07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 7, 2006, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 2, 2007 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia...
and is located at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. It has seating for 14,593 fans, nearly twice the capacity of 8,457 at Virginia's previous facility, University Hall.
The design features pergolas on the outside to tie in the design with Scott Stadium
Scott Stadium
Scott Stadium , located in Charlottesville, Virginia, is the home of the Virginia Cavaliers football team. It sits on the University of Virginia's Grounds, east of Hereford College and first-year dorms on Alderman Road but west of Brown College and the Lawn...
, UVA's football facility. This style is known as Jeffersonian architecture
Jeffersonian architecture
Jeffersonian Architecture is an American form of Neo-Classicism or Neo-Palladianism embodied in American president and polymath Thomas Jefferson's designs for his home , his retreat , his school , and his designs for the homes of friends and political allies...
, reminiscent of the many buildings designed by Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
on UVa's grounds and nearby.
The arena is not named after the American naval hero
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to...
, or the Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
bassist
John Paul Jones (musician)
John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
, rather it is named in honor of the father of Paul Tudor Jones, who donated $35 million for the construction of the arena. He earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from the University in 1976. His father, John Paul Jones, is a 1948 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
.
The arena plays host to not only basketball games, but a wide variety of concerts, performances and other events; for example, its opening season in 2006 includes events such as Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
, Larry the Cable Guy
Larry the Cable Guy
Daniel Lawrence Whitney , better known by his stage name and character Larry the Cable Guy, is an American comedian, actor, and former radio personality....
, The Wiggles
The Wiggles
The Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...
, Disney on Ice
Disney on Ice
Disney On Ice is a touring ice show produced by Feld Entertainment under agreement with The Walt Disney Company. Aimed primarily at children, the shows feature figure skaters dressed as Disney cartoon characters in performances that each derive their music and plot from elements collected from...
& WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
Monday Night Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
.
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
made a stop here on his "Summerzcool" tour on November 17, 2009, his first stop in Charlottesville in two decades.
In addition to this, the arena has office space for SMG staff, the UVa athletics media relations department, video services and dining services. It also features coaches' offices, practice facilities and an extensive sports medicine facility for men's and women's basketball teams.
The arena's first event was Cirque du Soleil's Delirium
Delirium (Cirque du Soleil)
Delirium was a touring multimedia stage show by Cirque du Soleil featuring live music, video projections, and performances by acrobats and other circus performers. The production featured remixes of existing Cirque du Soleil music...
on Tuesday, August 1, 2006, but the official Grand Opening event was a two-night tour-ending stand by Charlottesville natives Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
, September 22–23, 2006. An "open house" event for the local community was conducted on July 22, 2006.
In February 2007, the arena was awarded the title of "Best New Major Concert Venue" at Pollstar
Pollstar
Pollstar is a concert tour industry's leading trade publication that gets its information primarily from the agents, managers and promoters who are producing concerts. Founded in 1981, it is based in Fresno, California and has an office in London with correspondents in six countries. Pollstar is...
's 18th Annual Concert Industry Awards.
Built Ford Tough Series
The Built Ford Tough Series is the "major league" tour of the PBR competitions. It is a 30-city event series culminating in the PBR World Finals every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The top 45 riders of the PBR compete in the BFTS with the rankings determined by points and money won...
tour to JPJ Arena; prior to this, the arena had hosted an event on the PBR's Enterprise Tour (which was one of the PBR's minor league tours that was eventually combined with the other minor league tours to create the Touring Pro Division in 2010).
Memorable events
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
92–72 in the afternoon. Later that evening in front of a capacity crowd of 15,219, the Virginia men's basketball team defeated #10 ranked Arizona
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Sean Miller.Arizona has a long and rich...
93–90, rallying from a 19 point first half deficit. Both games included elaborate pre-game festivities that featured a fireworks display and the Cavalier mascot rappelling from the rafters. Michael Buffer
Michael Buffer
Michael Buffer is an American professional ring announcer for boxing and professional wrestling matches. He is known for his trademarked catchphrase, "Let's get ready to rumble!" He is known for pioneering a distinct announcing style in which he rolls certain letters and adds other inflections to...
was introduced to announce the Virginia starting lineup prior to men's game.
On February 1, 2007, the Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team defeated the #8 Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
68–66 in overtime, marking their first win over Duke since February 2002. The Cavaliers trailed by eight points with 3:42 left in regulation but their defense held Duke without a field goal for the final 8:42 of the game, including all of overtime. With 24.8 seconds left in regulation, a Sean Singletary
Sean Singletary
Sean Singletary is an American professional basketball player.-Early life:Singletary was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended C. W...
15-footer forced the extra period; Singletary also hit the game-winning basket with one hand while falling backward with one second left in overtime. The win marked Virginia's fifth ACC victory in a row and ended Duke's own five-game winning streak.
On March 1, 2007, the men's basketball team defeated Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball
The Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Home games are played at Cassell Coliseum, located on Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg.-History:...
69–56, clinching a share of first place in the final ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
regular season standings for the 2006–2007 season
2006-07 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team
The 2006-07 University of Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference....
. The victory marked the school-record 16th home win of the season, and the Cavaliers finished 16–1 for the season in their new arena. Furthermore, Virginia went an undefeated 8–0 in league games at home for the first time since the Hoos went 7–0 at home in 1982. Also at this game, the fans in attendance said goodbye to two 4th-year players, J. R. Reynolds and Jason Cain
Jason Cain
Jason Cain is a professional basketball player, formerly of the University of Virginia Cavaliers, mostly playing significant minutes during his 3rd and 4th years. He is a Forward/Center and helped the Virginia team in 06-07 to the NCAA tournament. As of the 2008/2009 season, he plays for the New...
, both of whom had contributed to the Virginia basketball program.
On December 5, 2009, Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
played the final show of their 2009 Fall Tour at the arena. At the beginning of a first set "Ya Mar", an erratic fan proceeded to run on stage fully naked. He ran up and hugged Guitarist Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
and kissed him on the cheek. He made 3 laps around the stage before finally being run down by security. Anastasio proceeded by saying, "Let's hear it for the naked guy, pick him up, that took a lot of balls." Later on, the lyrics of "Ya Mar" stated "he was a naked pa", and "Run like an Antelope" was changed to "Run like a Naked Guy, Out of Control". The incident has since been the source of many Phish related jokes.
On September 8, 2010, Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
played the arena on the second North American leg of her record-breaking, high grossing tour, The Monster Ball Tour
The Monster Ball Tour
The Monster Ball Tour was the second worldwide concert tour by American recording artist Lady Gaga. Staged in support of her album The Fame Monster and comprising a set list of songs from that and her debut album The Fame , the tour visited arenas and stadiums from 2009 through 2011...
. It was one of Lady Gaga's first times performing in Virginia.