PHOTOPHILE- Sneak play: JPJ donors get first big peek

A week before the public preview, UVA officials thanked the folks who donated money for the John Paul Jones Arena. The July 13 event brought scores of check-writers to check out the $130 million facility that takes UVA from tiny to jumbo arenaville, from 8,457 seats at U Hall to space for 15,219 screaming fans at JPJ. If they wanted to stroll the court, however, even big donors had to wear the proper footwear: sneakers.

(For more on the Arena and UVA's top builder, Dick Laurance, see this week's "HotSeat"–editor.)

Finally, some trees

UVA's first retired jersey– Buzzy Wilkinson's– with suite director Marilyn Wright

State-of-the-art scoreboard can show replays and deliver $7 million worth of light and thunderous sound.

They mob the field– er– court.

Elizabeth Harrell and Jess French check out the new audio/visual control room.

AD Craig Littlepage thanks the donors.

Attendees were told to wear sneakers (with their cocktail attire).

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