On Friday, DCist reported that the 25,000-seat Nissan Pavilion had been renamed Jiffy Lube Live. Other media outlets then followed our lead, but phone calls and emails to Live Nation for comment went universally un-returned. Then this morning, the company finally emailed out a press release officially announcing the name change. The release makes it seem like the new name may have have been posted to Live Nation’s web site before they had planned to make the announcement.

BRISTOW, VA – (January 11, 2010) – Jiffy Lube Washington Area Co-op, Inc. (JWAC) and Live Nation, the world’s largest live music company, today announced a seven year partnership that gives JWAC the naming rights to the former Nissan Pavilion (originally Stone Ridge) located in Bristow, VA. Beginning today the amphitheater will be called Jiffy Lube Live.

“We feel that this is a tremendous opportunity for us to reach out to music audiences as diverse as the vehicles we service!” said Dale Smith, president of JWAC. “Jiffy Lube Live will allow us to keep our brand out in front of current as well as the next generation of drivers.”

Jiffy Lube Live, owned and operated by Live Nation, can accommodate 25,000 people and hosts approximately 25 concerts per year. Some well-known acts that performed in the 2009 season include Nickelback, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Coldplay, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews Band, with 2010 concerts expected to be announced shortly.

Jiffy Lube Washington Area Co-op (“JWAC”) is a co-operative of independent franchisees of Jiffy Lube International, and acts as an independent entity. JWAC includes thirteen (13) Franchisees, operating fifty-five (55) Jiffy Lube service centers in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia that are within the greater Washington, DC area. They provide preventive maintenance to more than 1 million vehicles each year. Visit www.jiffylubedc.com to learn more about vehicle care and the Jiffy Lube service centers in the greater Washington, DC area.