PHOTOPHILE- Sneak play: JPJ donors get first big peek

In Issue 529
By P. Wright
In the Photophile category

Published July 20, 2006 in issue 0529 of the HooK.

By P. Wright

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).

100 2nd st nw . charlottesville va 22902 . 434.295.8700 . fax 434.295.8097

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