Andrew Pace
The University of Virginia's basketball arena, the John Paul Jones Arena, is a 15,000-seat, $129 million multipurpose arena that opened in 2006. It is the largest arena in Virginia and home to the University's men's and women's basketball teams. The arena also houses office space for SMG staff, the UVa athletics media relations department, video services, dining services, coaches' offices, and an extensive sports medicine facility. The arena has won several industry accolades, including Best New College Basketball Arena in the country over the last decade by Sports Illustrated Magazine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | John Paul Jones Arena |
| University | University of Virginia |
| Location | Albemarle County, Virginia |
| Construction | Funded by Paul Tudor Jones ($35 million) |
| Year opened | 2006 |
| Capacity | 15,000 seats |
| Purpose | Basketball, concerts, performances, lectures, shows, community events |
| Features | Roman pergolas, horseshoe-shaped seating, retractable seats, entry plaza, wide concourses, luxury suites, sports medicine facility, parking for 1,500 cars |
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What You'll Learn
The University of Virginia's John Paul Jones Arena has 15,219 seats
The University of Virginia's John Paul Jones Arena is a 15,219-seat basketball arena that opened in 2006. It is the largest arena in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of the most technologically advanced in college basketball, if not the NBA. The arena is home to the University's men's and women's basketball teams and replaced the University Hall, which had 8,457 seats.
The John Paul Jones Arena was constructed with a mix of traditional design and modern amenities. Its most prominent feature is the grand pergola at the main entrance, echoing the university's Greek-inspired Jeffersonian architecture. The arena also features a unique, horseshoe-shaped seating bowl, with one end open to provide views of the campus and its distinctive red brick and white architecture. The lower portion of the seating bowl has retractable seats, allowing for the installation of a large stage and additional seating on the arena floor.
The University of Virginia's basketball teams have thrived in their new arena. The men's team has a record of 257-63 (.803) at the John Paul Jones Arena as of March 2025, and the women's team celebrated the arena's opening with a 92-72 victory over Old Dominion University. The arena has also hosted many of the biggest acts in live entertainment, including Dave Matthews Band, Lady Gaga, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen.
The John Paul Jones Arena project included four major components beyond the arena itself. These included parking for 1,500 cars, an entry road connecting to the Virginia highway system, and a plan to restore Meadow Creek, the University's primary watershed. The project also included state-of-the-art practice facilities for the basketball teams, with weight training facilities, a training room, coaches' offices, and locker rooms.
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It's the largest arena in Virginia
The basketball arena at the University of Virginia, known as the John Paul Jones Arena, is the largest arena in Virginia. It was opened on November 12, 2006, with a capacity of 15,219 seats, and cost $129 million to build. The arena is home to the University's men's and women's basketball teams, replacing the University Hall, which had a capacity of 8,457 seats.
The John Paul Jones Arena was designed by VMDO Architects, with the Kansas City office of Ellerbe Becket as collaborating architects. The design features a unique, horseshoe-shaped seating bowl, with an open end allowing spectators to view the larger campus and the University's hallmark red brick and white-accented architecture. The arena also boasts modern amenities such as an inviting entry plaza, wide concourses, 20 luxury suites, and over 100 courtside seats.
In addition to basketball games, the arena hosts a wide range of events, including concerts, lectures, family shows, exhibits, trade shows, and community events. Notable performers who have graced the arena include Dave Matthews Band, Lady Gaga, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, and many more. The arena has won several industry accolades, including "Best New Major Concert Venue" at Pollstar's 18th Annual Concert Industry Awards and "Best New College Basketball Arena" by Sports Illustrated Magazine.
The construction of the John Paul Jones Arena was made possible by a $35 million personal donation from Paul Tudor Jones, a 1976 UVA Economics graduate. The arena was named in honour of his father, John Paul Jones, a 1948 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law. The arena is located primarily in Albemarle County, with only a small portion in the southeastern corner falling within the City of Charlottesville.
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It was constructed with $35 million in private funding
The University of Virginia's basketball arena, the John Paul Jones Arena, was constructed with $35 million in private funding. The funding was donated by Paul Tudor Jones, who received naming rights in exchange for his donation. Jones, who earned a B.A. in Economics from UVA in 1976, named the arena in honour of his father, John Paul Jones, a 1948 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.
The John Paul Jones Arena is the largest indoor arena in Virginia, with seating for 14,623 fans (although some sources state 15,000 or 15,219 seats). It is also the biggest Atlantic Coast Conference basketball arena located outside of large metropolitan areas. The arena was completed in 2006 and replaced the University Hall, which had 8,457 seats.
The arena is located mostly in Albemarle County, with only a small part of the building in the City of Charlottesville. The design of the arena features Roman pergolas, a modern take on the university's Greek-inspired Jeffersonian architecture. The arena also includes office space, coaches' offices, an extensive sports medicine facility, and state-of-the-art practice facilities for the basketball teams.
The John Paul Jones Arena has been a successful home court for the Virginia Cavaliers men's and women's basketball teams, with the teams rarely losing at home since the arena opened. The arena has also hosted concerts, lectures, and other events, including performances by the Dave Matthews Band and Cirque du Soleil.
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It opened in 2006, replacing the University Hall
The University of Virginia's basketball arena, the John Paul Jones Arena, opened in 2006, replacing the University Hall. The new arena is significantly larger than its predecessor, with a capacity of 15,000 seats, making it the largest arena in Virginia. The $129 million project was funded almost entirely by private funds, with a notable donation of $35 million coming from Paul Tudor Jones, a UVA alumnus. The new arena is not just used for basketball games but also for concerts, performances, lectures, and other events.
The John Paul Jones Arena was designed by VMDO Architects, with the Kansas City office of Ellerbe Becket as collaborating architects. The design features a unique, horseshoe-shaped seating bowl, with one end left open to provide spectators with views of the larger campus and the University of Virginia's hallmark architecture. The arena also incorporates modern amenities, such as an inviting entry plaza, wide concourses, luxury suites, and courtside seats.
The first event held at the arena was Cirque du Soleil's Delirium on August 1, 2006, followed by an official Grand Opening event featuring a two-night stand by the Dave Matthews Band on September 22-23, 2006. The University of Virginia's women's basketball team played their first game at the arena on November 12, 2006, defeating Old Dominion University 92-72.
The construction of the new arena provided several benefits to the University's basketball program. The state-of-the-art practice facilities allowed players to practice at all times, even when the main arena was being used for other events. Additionally, the new arena enhanced the home-court advantage for the Cavaliers, with the team rarely losing a home game since moving to the new arena.
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It hosts concerts, lectures, and travelling shows
The John Paul Jones Arena at the University of Virginia is a 15,000-seat basketball arena that also hosts concerts, lectures, and travelling shows. It opened in 2006, replacing the University Hall, which was demolished in 2019. The arena was designed by VMDO Architects, in collaboration with the Kansas City office of Ellerbe Becket, an AECOM company.
The arena's design features a unique, horseshoe-shaped seating bowl, with one end of the upper deck left open to provide views of the larger campus and the University of Virginia's distinctive red brick and white architectural style. The arena also boasts modern amenities such as an inviting entry plaza, wide concourses, luxury suites, and courtside seats.
The John Paul Jones Arena has played host to a variety of concerts and performances, including Dave Matthews Band, Cirque du Soleil, The Police, Eric Clapton, Lady Gaga, Elton John, and many more. The arena has won several industry accolades, including "Best New Major Concert Venue" at Pollstar's 18th Annual Concert Industry Awards in 2007.
In addition to concerts and performances, the arena also hosts lectures and travelling shows. The retractable seats in the lower portion of the seating bowl allow for a large stage and additional seating on the arena floor, providing flexibility for different types of events. The arena also houses office space for staff, media relations, video services, dining services, and coaches' offices, making it a multi-purpose facility for the University of Virginia community.
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Frequently asked questions
The John Paul Jones Arena at the University of Virginia is a 15,000-seat basketball arena, with some sources stating the exact number to be 15,219. It is the largest arena in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The arena has a unique, horseshoe-shaped seating bowl, with one end of the upper deck left open. This allows spectators to view the larger campus and the University of Virginia's distinctive red brick and white architecture. The design also features Roman pergolas, both inside and outside, a modern take on the university's Greek-inspired Jeffersonian architecture.
The arena includes parking for 1,500 cars, an entry road connecting to the Virginia highway system, and state-of-the-art practice facilities for both the men's and women's basketball teams. The arena also houses office space for SMG staff, the UVa athletics media relations department, video services, dining services, coaches' offices, and an extensive sports medicine facility.
