Countdown to Tip-Off

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Oct. 25, 2006

On Saturday, Nov. 11 the Virginia athletics department will host “Countdown to Tip-Off”, a special concert on the evening before the first regular season basketball games in John Paul Jones Arena. Here are some FAQs regarding the details of the event:

What is “Countdown to Tip-Off?”

The “Countdown to Tip-Off” event is a special concert scheduled for Nov. 11 on the eve of the Virginia men’s and women’s basketball teams’ home season-opening doubleheader at the John Paul Jones Arena. The concert features “Earth, Wind & Fire,” the popular R&B musical group, and bass guitarist Wayman Tisdale. The members of the men’s and women’s basketball teams will also be introduced at “Countdown to Tip-Off,” which will be held at the John Paul Jones Arena.

How can I attend this event?

Men’s and women’s basketball season ticket holders will receive a ticket to this event. Individuals who have purchased the six-game “Power Pack” or five-game “Weekend Pack” ticket packages for men’s basketball by Oct. 30 will also receive a ticket to “Countdown to Tip-Off.” Five hundred seats are available for students. Students can claim tickets by using the SHOTS system beginning Monday, Oct. 30. The student claim period will end Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Seating for the event is general admission except for the 1,000 seats on the arena floor and sections 102, 103, 104 and 105 rows A-J. The floor seats will be reserved for special guests.

All men’s season ticket holders will receive a ticket to the event with their season ticket strip. General Admission will be printed on the ticket for “Countdown to Tip-Off.” The remainder of the tickets in the strip, beginning with the Arizona game on Nov. 12, will indicate the ticket holder’s season ticket location.

Tickets will be mailed on or about Oct. 27 from Arkansas to all men’s and women’s season ticket holders.

A general admission ticket separate from the season ticket strip will be sent to women’s season ticket holders for “Countdown to Tip-Off.”

For those individuals purchasing a men’s basketball ticket package, a general admission ticket will be included with each six-game and five-game package. The ticket packages will be mailed around Nov. 3.

Can tickets be purchased to “Countdown to Tip-Off?”

Tickets can’t be purchased to the “Countdown to Tip-Off” event. Only men’s and women’s basketball season ticket holders, individuals purchasing the six-game “Power Pack” and five-game “Weekend Pack” ticket packages for men’s basketball by Oct. 30, and the first 500 students registering for tickets through the online SHOTS system accessible via the men’s basketball page on virginiasports.com are able to attend the event.

Men’s and women’s basketball season tickets and the six- and five-game men’s basketball ticket packages can be ordered online at virginiasports.com or by calling the UVa athletics ticket office at 1-800-542-8821 or 434/924-8821. Fans can also order tickets by stopping at the athletics ticket office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

What times does the event start and what time do the doors open?

The “Countdown to Tip-Off” event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Nov. 11 with the doors to the John Paul Jones Arena opening at 6 p.m. The event begins with a performance by Wayman Tisdale at 7 p.m. Tisdale’s performance will be followed by the introduction of the Virginia men’s and women’s basketball teams. “Countdown to Tip-Off” ends with a performance by “Earth, Wind & Fire.”

What is the parking situation?

Men’s and women’s season ticket holders who have season parking passes for the reserved lots around the John Paul Jones Arena and University Hall should use those parking passes to access those lots for the “Countdown to Tip-Off” event. Suite holders, courtside seat holders and others who have individually numbered spaces in the parking garage at the John Paul Jones Arena for men’s basketball games have a specific pass for the event. The parking passes will be mailed with the season ticket packages.

Women’s season ticket holders who purchased a parking pass will park in the west lot rather than the numbered space in the garage.

The Emmet/Ivy parking garage and parking in the North Grounds area are options for individuals without season parking passes.