Perched on Massie Road, the new 336,000-square-foot John Paul Jones Arenatowers above its surroundings. With a seating capacity of 15,000, the JPJ Arena holds 6,500 more people than the facility it replaced and boasts a calendar of events ranging from comic Larry the Cable Guy to the circus, not to mention the Virginia Cavalier basketball games.
Boasting signature Jeffersonian architecture, the JPJ Arena holds two and a half practice courts, training rooms, coach's offices, locker rooms, equipment rooms, a dining area and an academic center, according to project director Richard Laurance.
"It's got everything for basketball and everything else," Laurance said. "It is definitely multi-purpose."
Joel Rothenberg, a 1969 graduate of the College, said he was checking out the construction of the JPJ Arena one day when he was invited inside by the workmen. When he attended the University, the basketball games were still played in Memorial Gymnasium.
"Mem Gym was literally the snake pit of the ACC," Rothenberg said. "Being at U-Hall the night it opened, people were amazed at that state-of-the-art place. [JPJ Arena] is just fantastic."
Rothenberg said the seating situation impressed him the most.
"There doesn't look like there can be a bad seat," Rothenberg said. From "the close-up seats, you'll be able to see the players, and farther away, you can see everything that goes on. You won't miss anything in either place."
Fourth-year College student and former Cavalier basketball player Matt Deasey said even though he is not playing this season, he is excited to watch the games in the new arena.
"It's fantastic for the team, especially for recruiting players," Deasey said.
Rothenberg also noted the new facility's appeal for both athletes and students.
"We went from a higher class high school gymnasium to what you envision if you watch pro basketball," Rothenberg said. The JPJ Arena "looks like this is where serious ball is being played. Nobody scrimped on making this look like a place where a high-quality basketball team will be playing. The whole ambiance of the place reeks of nothing but class."
Laurance, who also presided over the remodeling of Scott Stadium and the construction of the Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Science Building, said the concept for a new arena were already being tossed around in 1988.
"The idea germinated in the 80s and in the 90s we realized we needed a brand new, state-of-the-art arena," Laurance said.
Laurance cited the cramped locker rooms, closet-sized offices, small score board, lack of a video board and outdated bathrooms and concessions as reasons U-Hall had to go.
"The JPJ Arena is absolutely spectacular," Laurance said. "The coaches' areas are unbelievable. It's absolutely the best in the country."
Upcoming non-basketball events scheduled for the JPJ Arena include "The Wiggles Live: Wiggledancing" and Kenny Chesney.
A student discount on tickets will be offered at some special events, said Liz Flynn, JPJ Arena director of marketing.
"When we can do it, we will do it," Flynn said. "It's entirely up to the artist, so we ask them if we can, and sometimes we can and sometimes we can't."
There will be many opportunities for student discounts; Laurance said the JPJ Arena's calendar of events will stay packed.
"The plan for next year, and it'll probably stay the same [for years to come], is to have about 100 events a year, including basketball games," Laurance said. "Thirty basketball games and 70 special events like concerts, plays, speeches and circuses."
Despite the venue's versatility, Deasey emphasized the basketball elements. He said he was not sure if the team had anything planned to unveil the arena.
"Hopefully they'll just win a game, which I'm sure they'll do," Deasey said.
Deasey said he hoped the team can keep up a winning record this season in the new arena.
"Especially in the early part of the season, if [the team] can win a couple of games, it'll be a double draw," Deasey said. "Come see a new arena and a good team."
According to the University's Athletic Ticketing Web site, student tickets for basketball games will still be doled out using the S.H.O.T.S. program. In this system, students must first register for a ticket. If more students register than seats available, the tickets will be distributed by a lottery system.
If a student wins a ticket in the lottery system and claims his or her ticket but does not attend the game, it will affect him or her in subsequent lotteries.
On the other hand, if the student wins and claims his or her ticket and does attend the game, he or she will have a better chance in subsequent lotteries.
A large donation from an anonymous donor plus another "huge amount" from Paul Tudor Jones, a 1976 graduate of the Commerce School, kick started the project into motion, Laurance said.
Paul Tudor Jones wanted the new arena to be named after his father, John Paul Jones, a 1948 graduate of the University's Law School. Paul Tudor Jones also contributed "tens of millions of dollars more after his initial donation," Laurance said.
The entire $129,800,000 budget was privately funded. Neither the state nor the University had to contribute one penny.
Laurance said it was unusual for any project in the U.S. to use only private funding.
"In fact, I've never heard of one" other than the JPJ Arena, he said.
Construction began on Aug. 10, 2003, and the arena was completed and ready for occupancy on June 16, 2006, Laurance said.
A 1,000-space parking lot used to sit on the land now occupied by the JPJ Arena. Laurance said that particular location on Massie Road was chosen because of its proximity to other sports facilities.
"It's in an area that is generally referred to as an athletic precinct," Laurance said. "The McCue Center, U-Hall, the lacrosse field, the soccer field, the baseball field -- it's only natural to put it somewhere near that."
The arena itself was not the only construction linked to the John Paul Jones project. The North Grounds Connector, a 25 m.p.h. road that links North Grounds to the 250 Bypass, was also a part of the JPJ Arena's total budget.
"It's a two-lane road, but [there are] extra wide lanes and shoulders," Laurance said. "For events, there will be two lanes out and one lane in or vice versa."
So what will become of U-Hall?
"I don't know what the long-range projection might be," Laurance said. "What I've read in newspapers is in seven years or so, they'll tear it down and build a field house. You've got to put something back that puts all the offices back."
Although the men's basketball team lost their last game in U-Hall by one point to Maryland, Deasey said he has only fond memories from the older facility.
"I loved U-Hall," Deasey said. "It's cool to play in an older arena. It's a big advantage to the home team in terms of noise. All of the new arenas are fancy, with flashing lights, and the people are far away. It's more of a luxury for fans than the team."
Rothenberg said he believes the athletes will enjoy the arena.
"It's going to be a real nugget," Rothenberg said. "The ACC teams will love playing in there. They may not like having their butts beat by Virginia."
Rothenberg said, like Scott Stadium, the new JPJ Arena should inspire pride in Wahoos everywhere.
"The John Paul Jones Arena really speaks of the value the University places on the student body feeling absolutely great when they go to any sporting event the University sponsors," Rothenberg said. "You guys are going to love it"
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