Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times

A Dave Matthews Band poster was for sale along with others at the WUVT poster sale on the Virginia Tech Drillfield late last month.

Concert line up

6 p.m. Phil Vassar

6:35 Nas

7:05 John Mayer

8:20 p.m. Dave Matthews

Wanna swap tickets?

Virginia Tech will have a ticket swap meet aimed at allowing friends to sit together at the concert. Ticket swapping is first-come, first served, according to Tech’s office of special events.

• When: Today, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Where: Drillfield, a series of six lines depending on your ticket’s zone

The stage is taking shape before a worldwide audience, night classes are canceled and concertgoers are clutching their tickets as "A Concert for Virginia Tech" looms.

By Thursday, the spot where hundreds of students stomped and cheered during Saturday's football game will be replaced with giant speakers and professional singing.

The university is pointing interested fans to its Lane Stadium webcam, which highlights the progress of the North-end mounted stage.

But, if you're expecting the four-act show to feel like a football game day, think again.

Tailgating is prohibited in Virginia Tech parking lots, and stadium tickets, which normally sell for more than $200 at a game are going for $30 and $50 apiece on Internet auction sites. That's well below the $65 public asking price or the $40 additional student tickets for what is otherwise a free concert.

"It's not like a football game," said Chris Clough, director of marketing at Tech. "There will be parking lots during the day being used by regular faculty, staff and students."

Virginia Tech police will be patrolling to keep tailgaters from the scene, and officials are discouraging picnickers. Concession stands at the stadium will be open.

Clough also cautioned people hunting for tickets online to be wary of scams -- or people who promise specific seats.

"It's all general admission," he said.

Although officials expect about 50,000 people to attend, only the on-field seating will be assigned. The university has scheduled a "swap meet" for 6 p.m. today for attendees hoping to sit together.

Blacksburg residents in the know expect to see people without tickets lounge on the lawn along Chicken Hill to hear the music.

"I expect anywhere you go, you might be able to hear it," Clough said.

To allow students the chance to hit the show, all classes after 5 p.m. have been canceled.

At that time, most university lots will be open to the general public, although locals are encouraged to walk. Free bus service and an airport shuttle will be available.

Public parking aside from spots for the handicapped and media will be at the lot off Tech Center Drive near Chicken Hill.

The show's first two opening acts are only expected to have 20 to 30 minutes each to wow their fans.

"Obviously, it's a concert, so that can change," Clough said.

John Mayer is scheduled to play for 45 minutes, with headliner the Dave Matthews Band taking the bulk of the show. The band is slated to begin playing at 8:20 p.m.

Two sections of the stadium will be set aside for victims' families and band fan clubs, Clough said.

Letting fans who have no association with Tech attend has been a point of contention, as has inviting rapper Nas, whose lyrics include tales of gun violence.

The university has said it will not censor his lyrics.

A few Facebook groups both in support and opposition to Nas have cropped up, but none of the coordinators said they have plans to protest the musician.

"I definitely wouldn't do that -- it would be disrespectful to what the concert is about," said Candy Baracat-Donovan, a Tech alumna who heads a small group against Nas' performing.