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Van Halen to play Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Arena

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Van Halen will perform Sept. 15 as part of Chesapeake Energy Arena's 10th anniversary celebration, arena general manager Gary Desjardins announced Monday.

“This was a show we were really wanting to get,” Desjardins said during a Monday morning news conference at the facility. “We were very excited to hear that they were extending their tour and had added Saturday, Sept. 15, to their itinerary.”

It also was announced Monday that guitarist Eddie Van Halen has donated one of his signature EVH guitars to the University of Central Oklahoma's Academy of Contemporary Music for auction.

Academy President Scott Booker said during the conference that SMG, the facility management company for the arena, approached the guitarist about the donation to the school, which teaches performance, production and music business.

“I think that's amazing,” Booker said. “It shows ... the relationship our school has with local music industry leaders and business leaders, and I just want to thank you so much for this.”

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