UNC Charlotte dedicates marching band building

The Vickie and Gene Johnson Marching Band Center was officially dedicated on Wednesday, Oct. 21. For Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, the new building represents one more important step in the formation of a reputable football program at UNC Charlotte.

In his remarks, Dubois recalled feeling something was amiss at the first home game three years ago — even though the 49ers came away with a 52-7 victory over the Campbell Fighting Camels before a packed crowd in Jerry Richardson Stadium.

“But even amongst the noise of the extremely enthusiastic crowd, there was still something missing … live music. Fortunately, a couple of very special people were determined to bring music to the game day experience in the form of a marching band,” he said at the dedication, speaking of Vickie and Gene Johnson. “Their tireless commitment to that goal led to the creation of a drumline in record time … and this year, their vision was fully realized in the debut of the ‘Pride of Niner Nation’ marching band.”

The Pride of Niner Nation marching band made its debut at this year’s first home football game against Presbyterian College on Sept. 12. The band currently has 150 members, but officials expect it will eventually grow to include as many as 350 members.

The 6,700-square-foot Johnson Band Center features a conference room, workroom and four offices for the band staff. It also includes restrooms, a drum storage room and ample space to store musical instruments, uniforms and color guard equipment for the entire marching band.

The building was designed by the award-winning architecture firm Watson Tate Savory. During the past five years, the firm has earned 15 awards for its designs for colleges and universities.

Vickie and Gene Johnson, members of the classes of 1971 and 1973, respectively, have been generous supporters of the University and actively involved in the growth and progress of UNC Charlotte.

In May 2014, Gene Johnson became the first alumnus to be awarded an honorary degree from UNC Charlotte. He served as president of the Alumni Board and on the Board of Trustees for eight years and was the first alumnus to chair the trustees.

Vickie Johnson has two degrees from UNC Charlotte and served on the Alumni Board of Directors.

The Division for University Advancement has launched a crowdfunding effort to solicit financial support for the Pride of the Niner Nation.

Click here to see more photos from the dedication.