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The Galen Center is a multipurpose indoor Arena and athletic facility owned and operated by the University Of Southern California . Located at the southeast corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Figueroa Street in the Exposition Park area of Los Angeles , it is right across the street from the Campus and near the Shrine Auditorium and is the home of the USC Trojans Basketball and USC Volleyball teams. The Architect ural firm behind the design of the Galen Center is HNTB . In addition to basketball and volleyball events, the Galen Center will host Concert s, Pageants and theatrical performances. Local High School Graduation ceremonies as well as CIF championships and the Academic Decathlon will also be held at the Galen Center. HISTORY USC had planned to build an on-campus indoor arena for over 100 years. Before the Galen Center, USC basketball had been played at a variety of locations, including the neighboring Shrine Auditorium stage, the old Pan-Pacific Auditorium in the Fairfax District , and since 1959 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena . The final push to build the new facility began in 2002, when Louis Galen , a successful banker and long time Trojan fan, and his wife Helen donated $10 million to the new center immediately after USC football Quarterback Carson Palmer won the 2002 Heisman Trophy . The Galens donated an addition $25 million to the project to have the building named after them and later upped their donation an additional $15 million to make sure that a connected practice facility would also bear their name, bringing the total donation to $50 million. Previously, the USC men's and women's basketball teams practiced at the smaller, on-campus North Gym. The Galen Center replaced the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena as the home for USC men's and women's basketball. Galen Center and the arena, with access from Flower Street, and a second structure at the southeast corner of Figueroa Street and Exposition Boulevard. The additional parking structures also increased the available parking for both the USC campus and the nearby Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum . from the Galen Center's unique window]] Construction officially began on October 31 , 2004 , with a Groundbreaking Ceremony including Los Angeles City Council members Bernard Parks and Jan Perry along with Helene and Lou Galen, longtime USC fans for whom the facility is named. The first event, a women's volleyball game between USC and Stanford University , took place on October 12 , 2006 . The first concert at the Center was October 21, 2006 and featured Al Green. The first men's basketball was held on November 16th against the University Of South Carolina {Link without Title} The first national television show to shoot in the Galen Center was Jeopardy! hosted by Alex Trebek. On April 21-22, 2007, the Galen Center was transformed into a television studio and 10 episodes of the 2007 College Championship were recorded. A USC student competed, but did not make it to the final round. The championship was won by UCLA student Cliff Galiher. JIM STERKEL COURT The Galen Center's , both began at USC in 1955 and were roommates, and though Sterkel never graduated from USC, the two remained friends. Later in life, Sterkel was hired by Anonymous, who had become a successful businessman. When Sterkel contracted Cancer , Anonymous helped with his treatment. When Anonymous' own son contracted Leukemia , Sterkel wrote a poem for Anonymous, sealed it, and ordered it only to be read if Anonymous' son died. Sterkel died from cancer in 1997, Anonymous' son succumbed less than two years later. Touched by the poem and Sterkel's care, Anonymous made the donation to the Galen Center noting: "Some people don't deserve to be forgotten." {Link without Title} FACILITY INFORMATION The facility is 255,000 Square Feet , with a 45,000 square feet pavilion, and has three practice courts and offices. The Seating Capacity is 10,258, and there are 22 Private Suite s. The rights to purchase tickets for approximately 1/3 of the seats are being sold through lifetime personal seat licenses, or PSL's, ranging from $2500-$10,000 per seat. PSL holders, who will be honored as "Galen Founders", will have the first right of refusal to purchase tickets for their seats for all sporting events and concerts held at the arena. Founders will have priority access to the on-site restaurant. REFERENCES
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