John Paul Jones Arena

Capacity: 14,593

Home Teams: Virginia Cavaliers (NCAA College Basketball)

John Paul Jones Arena Events

Built in 2003 to provide a new home for the Virginia Cavaliers men’s and women’s basketball teams, Charlottesville’s John Paul Jones Arena has been praised as one of the best new NCAA basketball arenas. The exterior of the venue features a facade flanked by Greek columns in keeping with the general aesthetics of the University of Virginia. With a capacity of nearly 15,000, John Paul Jones Arena is the largest indoor arena in the state, making it a popular venue as well for comedy shows, concerts, and other large-scale events. The Cavaliers men’s basketball team emerged early as one of the top basketball programs in the country, but fell off in the 1950s and 60s before climbing back into prominence in the late 1970s, qualifying for their first NCAA March Madness postseason basketball tournament in 1976. Since then, the Cavaliers (or Wahoos as they are also known) have reached March Madness 25 more times, progressing 10 times to the Sweet 16 and 7 times to the Elite 8. Despite having a very strong team in the 1980s, the best the Cavaliers had ever finished was third (they actually won the last ever NCAA third place game in 1981) until 2019, when they defeated the Auburn Tigers in a nailbiter 63-62 in the Final Four to reach the NCAA championship final. There, the Cavaliers beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders in overtime 85-77 to bring home the university’s first NCAA men’s basketball championship title. As well as Cavaliers basketball games, John Paul Jones Arena has also hosted many famous performers, including Jay-Z, Metallica, and the Dave Matthews Band (who consider it their “home” venue and perform there frequently). Hungry visitors will find many tasty snacks at John Paul Jones Arena concessions, including Papa John’s Pizza, Philly cheesesteaks, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, along with plenty of cold beer. Those in the market for Cavs merchandise should head to shops and kiosks at John Paul Jones Arena or around campus.

How can I find the cheapest tickets to games and events at John Paul Jones Arena?

Recent successes, especially the 2019 championship win, have made the Virginia Cavaliers basketball team into the talk of the town (a town where football has tended to dominate the conversation). As with concerts and other major events at John Paul Jones Arena, Cavs home games are now a very hot ticket, frequently selling out months in advance. To get your hands on these elusive tickets, and find the cheapest tickets to Virginia Cavaliers basketball home games or other events at John Paul Jones Arena, search the TicketX listings on this page. Our trusty TicketX seating chart is also a great way to compare seating options based on price and location.

John Paul Jones Arena Seating Chart

John Paul Jones Arena is a large venue offering many different seating options to visitors. Fans keen on a more exclusive experience can apply for premium seating areas like courtside or front row seats. Large general admission sections with relatively affordable seats give fans the chance to plunge into the crowd and cheer on the team.

Getting to John Paul Jones Arena (Transportation and Parking)

Visitors can access John Paul Jones Arena via public transportation or driving their own vehicle. 

Getting to John Paul Jones Arena via public transportation

University Transit Service buses do stop near John Paul Jones Arena, so it is possible to get to the venue using public transportation.A taxi or ride-share is a more convenient option if you are short on time. Walking to the venue is possible if you will be located close to campus.

Getting to John Paul Jones Arena by car

It is quite easy to drive to John Paul Jones Arena in your own vehicle as long as you budget enough time to get through game day traffic around the venue. Arrive early! The John Paul Jones Arena website has detailed driving directions as well as maps. 

Does John Paul Jones Arena have on-site parking?

Yes, a good deal of parking is available on campus near John Paul Jones Arena in large garages and parking lots. Check the John Paul Jones Arena website to view maps and read explanations of which areas are open for public parking. You can also purchase parking passes in advance.

How much does John Paul Jones Arena parking cost?

Public parking in the large lots near John Paul Jones Arena generally costs $5, though some by the hour lots charge more. Other large lots are free. These rates vary based on the event you are attending, so be sure to check. The John Paul Jones Arena website has information on parking arrangements and parking prices.