| Pauley Pavilion |
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Information AboutPauley Pavilion |
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The building was dedicated in June, 1965 , named for University Of California Regent Edwin W. Pauley , who had matched the alumni contributions. Pauley donated almost one fifth of the more than $5,000,000 spent in building the Arena . FEATURES Pauley Pavilion contains 10,337 permanent theater-style upholstered seats, plus retractable Bleachers for 2,482 spectators, making a total basketball capacity of 12,829. This capacity has been exceeded several times for several men's basketball games by adding portable bleacher seating alongside the retractable bleachers. The single-game attendance record of 13,478 was set on February 23, 1997 (UCLA vs. Duke ). When the bleachers are retracted, there is space for three full-sized basketball courts. These courts are used for team practice, Intramural games, and Pickup Basketball games. It can also serve as a convention hall or large dining area when in this configuration. When used for Volleyball , the basketball court is striped with colored tape. The volleyball net is erected at the half court line. There is a tunnel on the south side through which trucks and service vehicles may enter. This is also the "backstage" entrance for players, performers, and broadcast personnel. The floor is called "Nell and John Wooden Court." Former UCLA Mens Basketball Coach John Wooden attends every basketball game and sits at the far southeast side of the court behind the UCLA team bench. Before a game and during halftime a big line backs up to get John Wooden's autograph. UCLA MEN'S BASKETBALL SEATING From the opening of the building until 1987, the extra press not involved in the radio or television broadcasts sat behind the south side (team bench side) press table. The working press then moved to sit courtside at "press row" on the northern side of the court, as the south courtside seats were opened up to influential and affluent boosters. In 2003, the UCLA Athletic Department made available north side courtside seats to affluent donors. The media now sit higher up in permanent seating dead-center in the north side of the bleachers. The press move to the north side in 1987 was as controversial as the 2003 move, in that the student section was now behind the press table and big donors had taken the south side courtside seats. The student section has moved several times as well. Since 2003, the student section of 1,750 seats occupies the north side bleachers. The UCLA Varsity Band has also moved to accommodate seating changes. Originally, they were located on the north courtside directly across from the UCLA bench. In 1984, they moved to the northeast corner courtside. In 1996 they moved to the north side above the student section. In 2003, they moved to the west side of the arena to be courtside. HISTORY 1960's Before the construction of the Pavilion, the on-campus home to the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team was the 2,000 seat Men's Gym, nicknamed the "B.O. Barn". Games were also played at the Pan Pacific Auditorium , the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena and other venues around Los Angeles. Bruin teams, coached by John Wooden won the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in 1964 and 1965 . Fans and Coach Wooden felt that a suitable arena needed to be constructed. The arena was constructed so that there would be some space between the crowds and the action on the court. Coach Wooden cited the example of the close quarters of Harmon Gym (now Haas Pavilion ) where fans would pull leg hairs from his players' legs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , then known as Lew Alcindor, was recruited to UCLA partly on the promise of playing in the new arena.
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UCLA CHAMPIONSHIP BANNERS The only championship banners that are displayed within the building are for national or NCAA Championships. One banner each for men's and women's volleyball, as well as men's and women's gymnastics, lists all the years in which they were NCAA or National champions. There is one banner for the women's basketball AIAW championship in 1978 . There are 11 individual banners for the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship teams. Unlike most schools, there are neither conference championship banners nor other tournament championship banners displayed in the building, despite the fact UCLA teams have won many tournaments and basketball championships in the Pacific Ten Conference and its predecessor conferences. The men's banners are navy blue with gold lettering, while the women's banners are gold with navy blue lettering. NUMBERS OF RETIRED PLAYERS On February 3rd, 1990 in a ceremony in Pauley Pavilion, the first four UCLA basketball player jersey numbers were retired. This was the key moment in the "Pauley at 25" celebration of twenty-five years of the arena. The honorees were:
Numbers retired since then are:
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS Pauley Pavilion has been the venue for many other sports championships, concerts and political events. Concert performers have included Bad Religion , Bob Dylan , Bob Hope , Frank Sinatra , Luciano Pavarotti , Eric Clapton and the Grateful Dead . In 1984 , it was the Los Angeles venue for the 1984 Summer Olympics Men's and Women's Gymnastics and Women's Artistic Gymnastics events. Mary Lou Retton became the first Olympic Gymnast outside of Eastern Europe ever to have won the Olympic all-around title. On April 26, 1986, a birthday tribute for actress/comedienne Carol Burnett was held inside. Singer Neil Diamond performed '' Sweet Caroline '' in her honor. Four years later in 1988 , it was the site of a Presidential Election Debate between George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis . Dukakis also held his final Election -eve rally here, hosted by the UCLA Bruin Democrats. On September 10, 1992 , the MTV Video Music Awards show was held at Pauley Pavilion. It was hosted by Dana Carvey In 1994, composer Henry Mancini , having learned he had Terminal Cancer , gave his last concert at Pauley Pavilion. EXTERNAL LINKS |