CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The massive $130 million John Paul Jones Arena at the University of Virginia, expected to be an economic boon to Charlottesville, is set to open by early July.

"We're right on target," said Dick Laurance, project director. "It's really starting to look good."

The arena sure looks big.

The 100-foot-tall structure, which features 26 columns lined in a horseshoe shape at the main entrance, reminiscent of Jeffersonian architecture, will be the largest arena of its kind in Virginia, boasting about 15,000 seats.

It's on Massie Road just across from University Hall, which was built in 1966 and seats about 8,400 people.

The arena will serve not only as the home to U.Va.'s men's and women's basketball teams but will offer about 60 other events a year, including concerts, a speaker series and circuses. Look also for monster trucks, wrestling and maybe some NBA exhibition games.

A key feature of the new arena is a series of curtains that can divide the arena into more intimate 2,500- to 3,000-seat areas for lectures and other smaller events.

The first U.Va. men's basketball game, against Arizona, is Nov. 12. But the first event at the arena will be an appearance by Cirque du Soleil on Aug. 1. Larry Wilson, general manager of the arena, described the show as a "spectacle type of event."

Other planned events include World Wresting Entertainment's Monday Night RAW in August, the Dave Matthews Band on Sept. 22 and 23, Disney on Ice in October, the Lipizzaner Stallions in November and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in December. Wilson said more than 20 other events have already been booked, though the details are not yet being announced.

Over the next three years, the arena is expected to bring about 1.8 million visitors to Charlottesville.

The arena, which is being built with private money, is named for the father of Paul Tudor Jones II, a commodities trader who made a $35 million donation. The 80 courtside seats for basketball games will go to fans who have donated at least $500,000.