March 1, 2006 -– Larry Wilson, general manager of the University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena, today announced that Dave Matthews Band will be the Grand Opening event for the 16,000 seat facility, appearing on both Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2006.

This will be the first concert in Charlottesville for hometown favorite, Dave Matthews Band, since their appearance at Scott Stadium in April 2001.

Tickets for these events will be available for purchase in the next several months and members of the community can sign up now for special Keeping Up with the Joneses email alerts by visiting the John Paul Jones Area Web site.  Keeping Up with the Joneses allows subscribers to review upcoming events and notifies them when tickets go on sale.

SMG was founded in 1977 to manage its first account, the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Today, the company is the world leader in facility management, marketing and development.  Managing over 195 venues in 41 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and Europe, SMG provides each of their clients with a unique combination of industry experience, national and international presence, and extensive resources to draw upon to ensure the success of their facilities.

With over 1.4 million managed seats, SMG facilities host virtually every type of arena-oriented event imaginable including professional, minor league and NCAA collegiate sporting events to family shows and musical concerts for every age and taste.

The University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena is scheduled to open in Charlottesville in July 2006 and is home to the University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and host to an array of exceptional entertainment events.