BLACKSBURG -- The rumors can stop for now.

On Sept. 6, the Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Nas and Phil Vassar will perform in a concert at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium that will be free to all students, faculty and 2007 graduates.

Anyone else better start scouring eBay. People with registered vt.edu e-mail addresses or any connection to Tech reported being hit up for tickets shortly after the announcement Wednesday.

And why not?

People have been gossiping about the concert for months while public relations firms have skirted the hype. Late last week, a saxophonist for Mayer had posted the show on his Web site, but no one associated with Mayer would confirm the date. However, about midnight Wednesday, the musicians confirmed the show, said Chris Clough, director of marketing at Tech.

The concert was spearheaded by the Dave Matthews Band, which hails from Charlottesville. In the works since spring, the concert was planned as an attempt for Tech to move forward in the aftermath of the April 16 shootings that left 33 people, including the gunman, dead.

"We have a profound respect for the incredible resolve and unwavering sense of hope the university community has shown and are honored to have the opportunity to share this evening with Virginia Tech," Dave Matthews' drummer, Carter Beauford, said in a news release.

All students, faculty and staff can receive one free ticket and are eligible to enter a raffle to be allowed to purchase a second ticket, the price of which has not been released. Students who graduated this spring are also eligible for the free ticket.

Tickets must be preordered by noon Aug. 20 and can be picked up between Sept. 3 and Sept. 5 at Squires Student Center. Students tickets also can be picked up at the stadium's will-call window.

Shooting victims' families and those who were injured can sign up to receive three tickets each, Clough said. No tickets will be available for the public.

The concert, the first of its magnitude in Lane Stadium, could also include some unnamed acts. Bon Jovi, U2 and Rascal Flatts also have been rumored to be on the bill.

Clough could not confirm any additional performers.

As of Wednesday morning, the university was already working to update its computer system to handle all the online requests for tickets and information.

Although the show is free, Clough said pulling it off could cost up to $1 million. Proceeds from commemorative T-shirts and concessions will pay the bills, not concertgoers, he said.

The performers represent a variety of music, from hip-hop to country. Adeel Khan, Tech's student government president, said the event will be a great chance for everyone to come together.

The university expects to have about 42,000 people in the stadium and is treating it much like a Thursday night football game. It will offer shuttle service to the concert.

"It's been a huge, huge logistical challenge to set this up," Clough said.

One issue is keeping the Hokies' field pristine for its home football game the following week.

Clough said the grass will be covered with heavy-duty plastic that is guaranteed to keep the ground in top condition.

Because of the event's prominence, Clough said he expects some of the free tickets to be resold to third parties, but he hopes that enough people at Virginia Tech will want to attend and will avoid making money from the event.

In Virginia, scalping tickets is not illegal and the school has little planned to police it.

"They'll at least have to pass through the hands of someone affiliated with Virginia Tech," he said.