LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The Jackson State Tigers will take on the UNLV Rebels to kick off the football season September 1 at Sam Boyd Stadium but the party will get started a day earlier thanks to the arrival of the world-famous JSU Marching Band.

The Sonic Boom of the South, cheerleading squad and popular dance squad the Prancing J-Settes will perform at a special community appearance the night before the game. The free event on August 31 will take place at the Pearson Community Center, which is located at 1625 West Carey Avenue in North Las Vegas. Doors open at 5 p.m. with speakers and performances scheduled from 6-7 p.m.

Jackson State’s visit is part of a unique partnership between the two schools and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) that Director of Athletics Tina Kunzer-Murphy and LVCVA Chairman Lawrence Weekly announced earlier this year.

“Our city looks forward to hosting the team, staff and fans of Jackson State and we are thrilled that the historic university’s world-famous marching band will put on a show not just at halftime but also in our community the night before the game,” said Weekly.

Jackson State, a historically black college (HBCU), is a member of the tradition-rich Southwestern Athletic Conference and has produced Pro Football Hall of Famers Walter Payton, Jackie Slater and Lem Barney. UNLV hosted JSU once before, downing the Tigers in 1975.

Tickets to the game start at just $14 and are available along with season tickets by calling (702) 739-FANS or visiting unlvrebels.com. Group pricing is available by calling Dan Johnson at (702) 895-1885.

ABOUT THE LVCVA

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With more than 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and almost 11 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever- increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.lasvegas.com.