Ja Rule & Ashanti
Elmwood Park
Tickets: GA -$45.00, Day of - $50.00
Show time: 7:00pm
Jeffrey Atkins better known by his stage name Ja Rule was born in Hollis Queens, NY. He debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its lead single "Holla Holla". During the 2000s, Ja Rule was signed to Murder Inc., formerly known as The Inc. and led by Irv Gotti. From 1999 to 2005, Ja Rule had multiple hits that made the top 20 of the U.S. BillboardHot 100 chart, including "Between Me and You" (featuring Christina Milian), "I'm Real (Murder Remix)" and "Ain't It Funny" (both with Jennifer Lopez)—which both topped the Hot 100—the number 1 hit "Always on Time" (featuring Ashanti), "Mesmerize" (featuring Ashanti), and "Wonderful" (featuring R.Kelly and Ashanti).
Rule has been nominated for two American Music Awards and four Grammy Awards with respective collaborators Lil' Mo, Vita, Ashanti and Case. Following the release of his platinum-selling debut Venni Vetti Vecci (1999), he released his second and third albums Rule 3:36 (2000) and Pain Is Love (2001). Both albums topped the US Billboard 200 album chart, launching him into the mainstream, selling over a combined 15 million units to a wide audience, and attaining triple platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), becoming his best-selling albums to date. Rule followed up with his fourth, fifth and sixth albums The Last Temptation (2002), Blood in My Eye (2003), and R.U.L.E. (2004), with The Last Temptation attaining Platinum status and R.U.L.E. reaching Gold status. As of 2018, Rule has sold 14.4 million units in the USA and has sold over 30 million records worldwide.
Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, actor and author Ashanti burst onto the music scene with her smash hit, self-titled debut album, Ashanti. It landed the #1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, selling a whopping 504,593 units in its first week. This set a SoundScan record as the most albums sold by any debut female artist in the chart’s history and granted her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Over the span of her 20-year career, Ashanti has released six studio albums and received a number of illustrious rewards including eight Billboard Awards, a Grammy, two American Music Awards, two Soul Train Awards and six ASCAP Awards. She has reigned at the top as one of Billboard’s “Top Females of the Decade from 2000-2010” and continues to break Billboard records having a Hot 100 entry every decade in the 2000’s, 2010’s and 2020’s.
In 2005, Ashanti made her telefilm debut starring as Dorothy in The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz, opposite Miss Piggy and Kermit. She also starred in Disney’s animated series The Proud Family and continued her journey in television landing roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Army Wives, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, as well as portraying Dionne Warwick on NBC’s American Dreams.
In her feature film debut she co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson in the #1 box office hit Coach Carter. Ashanti’s additional film credits include Resident Evil Extinction, John Tucker Must Die and Bollywood film Bride & Prejudice. Ashanti executive produced and starred in the musical drama and feature film STUCK, released April 2019. She donned her executive producer hat once again for the feature film Mothers and Daughters, starring Sharon Stone, Susan Sarandon and Mira Sorvino.
In partnership with Build-A-Bear Entertainment and Sony Pictures, Ashanti leads the cast of the family friendly Honey Girls and will soon begin filming The Plus One in March 2022. The Ashanti brand has continued to flourish with several major partnerships including her own fragrance, "Precious Jewel" with AMC Beauty. Endorsements with Candies Apparel and the groundbreaking Herbal Essence, where she is the first African American to land a national campaign inspired her to launch a clothing line in collaboration with Miss Circle and partner with
Pretty Little Thing to create her own swimsuit line “Ashanti.”
As an author, she has written her first book of poetry through Hyperion titled Foolish/Unfoolish: Reflections on Love and will release a book with Harper Collins in 2022.
As a philanthropist, Ashanti is the Ambassador for the Jumpstart Reading Program and became the “Youth of the Year” Ambassador for the Boys and Girls Club of America in 2009 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. She became a member of their "BE GREAT" Campaign with Denzel Washington and was a part of the “Let’s Move” health campaign with Michelle Obama. To celebrate her contributions to music and recording, Ashanti will receive a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Spring 2022.
Policies and Procedures
Featured Events
BERGLUND CENTER COLISEUM
Tickets: $14-26 (Adult), $12-24 (Kids 2-12)
Parking: $10 or Free Shuttle
Doors Open - 6:00 PM, Game Start Time 7:05
Come out for Mickey Mouse & Friends Night! It's a fun-filled evening for the whole family with specialty jerseys to be auctioned off as Roanoke battles the Huntsville Havoc. Media partner is Q99.1 FM. Puck drops at 7:05 P.M. We'll see ya there!
BUY TICKETS
March brings Mozart, as your RSO presents the unique Piano Concerto No. 7 in F Major, K.242, known as the “Triple Concerto”. This concerto uses three Steinways and features elegant interplay between three solo pianists and the orchestra. The concert will also feature the premiere of David Dzubay’s mountain-inspired Ridgeline, evoking dramatic natural landscapes through vivid orchestral textures and contemporary harmonic language. Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin bursts with triumphant energy and majestic brass. Shostakovich’s great Symphony No. 5 is a powerful human testimony, a deeply personal musical response to living as an artist under Stalin, a great showpiece for the RSO.
BERGLUND SPECIAL EVENTS CENTER
Sinful Signings Presents: Nocturnal Host / 18+ Age Recommended for This Event
Step into a world where stories come alive after dark! Nocturnal Host is a 3-day immersive bookish experience designed for readers, authors, and dreamers alike.
What to Expect:
• Two full days of signings with over 100 authors, narrators, vendors, and featured guests ready to meet, greet, and connect with you.
• Engaging panels and Q&A sessions where you’ll hear insider perspectives and gain exclusive insights into the book world.
• A dazzling themed ball, where you can dress to impress and celebrate among fellow book lovers.
Whether you’re looking to discover your next favorite read, connect with the creators behind the stories, or dance the night away, Nocturnal Host promises a weekend you won’t forget.
Join us for three days of books, community, and unforgettable memories.
Ticket Options for Nocturnal Host
Choose the perfect pass to make the most of your Nocturnal Host experience!
VIP Pass — $200
The ultimate all-access experience!
• Early Registration on Friday
• Full Event Access Saturday & Sunday
• Exclusive VIP Hour on Saturday with 100+ authors, narrators, vendors, and featured guests
• Access to Panels & Special Events
• Admission to the Half-light Carnival on Friday (indoor carnival with games & prizes)
• Admission to the Bloodlust Ball on Saturday night
• Exclusive Event Tote Bag
• Exclusive Event Lanyard
• Exclusive Swag
⸻
2-Day Pass — $100
Enjoy a full weekend of bookish fun!
• Saturday & Sunday Signing Floor Access with 100+ authors, narrators, vendors, and featured guests
• Event Lanyard
• Swag Bag
⸻
Saturday Pass — $60
• Access to the Signing Floor on Saturday with 100+ authors, narrators, vendors, and featured guests
⸻
Sunday Pass — $40
• Access to the Signing Floor on Sunday with 100+ authors, narrators, vendors, and featured guests
⸻
Panel Add-On — $30
Take your experience further!
• Access to all panels throughout the weekend
⸻
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the ultimate 3-day bookish celebration. Spots are limited — secure your ticket today!
Berglund Center Coliseum
Limited Edition 100 Year Golden Replica Game Ball by Spalding®
Leaders in breaking barriers and making history, the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters™ today announced that Roanoke will be a key stop on the team’s 100 Year Tour—the most legendary tour in Globetrotters history—playing at Berglund Center on March 11, 2026. This centennial season is a once-in-a-century celebration of 100 Years of jaw-dropping “No Way!” moves, 100 Years of “Wow!” moments, and 100 Years of basketball thrills. From gravity-defying dunks to game-changing tricks, fans will feel the history, the joy, and the fun that only the Globetrotters can deliver. Tickets for Berglund Center will go on sale to the general public on Monday, September 22nd at 10:00am local time.
For the first time, the team will also debut their new 100 Year jerseys, honoring a century of global impact, as they face off against their longtime rivals, the Washington Generals. Fans can also expect all-new surprises like the Golden Basketball by Spalding®, epic pre-game Magic Pass experiences, and an unforgettable 5th Quarter Autograph session (FREE for ALL FANS!)—making this a celebration unlike any other.
From breaking the NBA color barrier with alums like Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton signing a pro contract as a member of the New York Knicks or courting future Hall of Famers like Wilt Chamberlain and Connie Hawkins, or Curly Neal and Meadowlark Lemon dazzling sellout crowds, to ushering women into professional basketball, to enchanting thousands around the world as the first team to globalize the game of basketball, to the current group of men and women who are stars on the court and on every screen, the Globetrotters are unparalleled in their reach, impact, awareness and in what they stand for as ‘Ambassadors of Goodwill.’
The current team of elite men and women, holders of an unprecedented 60+ Guinness World Records, including 18 set just last year, the most of any team in any sport, will bring a fresh look of gravity-defying dunks and game-changing tricks against their renowned rivals, The Washington Generals, on March 11.
Unrivaled fan engagement continues with Premium Fan Experiences such as:
● ALL NEW Magic Pass: Pre-game access & player meet-and-greets
● Celebrity Court Pass: Join the team for warmups on the court!
● VIP Bench Tickets: Sit on the bench with the Globetrotters or Generals for the entire game and immerse yourself in 100 years of history!
● Limited Edition 100 Year Golden Replica Game Ball by Spalding®, the most exclusive collectible to be ordered in advance and have ready for you when you enter the venue.
● 100 Year Tour Souvenir Ticket which fans can order and have delivered to their homes to expand their experience even more. *available in select markets
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the Harlem Globetrotters centennial celebration!
A warning to any fans with light sensitivity that strobing effects will be used during light shows within the Harlem Globetrotters game.