Call them fair-weather, call them finicky, call them loud.
Either way, Bruin fans are getting closer to the floor this season
in Pauley Pavilion.
Whereas the previous student section on the arena, or floor,
level was three sections wide and bordered by non-student seats,
recent changes have moved the student section to stretch across the
entire width of the north side of the floor, across from the Bruin
bench. The number of student seats remains unchanged at 1,750.
“The change was done in an effort to give the students
more presence on the floor, as has been requested for some time
now,” said Ken Weiner, associate athletic director of
business operations.
Built in 1965 during UCLA coaching legend John Wooden’s
reign, Pauley was built without student seats on the same level as
the playing surface. This, Wooden felt, created an unfair home
advantage and created a hostile environment for visiting teams.
But the previous student section layout was a perennial
complaint of student fans who didn’t feel close enough to the
action. Requests to change the layout eventually grew loud enough
that Athletic Director Dan Guerrero decided to make the change this
summer for this season.
And, with postseason chances resting on a team’s record,
many schools have embraced a student section that helps garner
victories. Duke, for example, holds an all-time home record of
620-138. It’s no coincidence that the Blue Devils’
Cameron Indoor Stadium has one of the most infamous student
sections in the country.
The 4,250 seat student section is typically a sellout, and the
“creative harassment” of student fans known as Cameron
Crazies makes Duke “one of the toughest road games in the
USA” according to a USA Today review.
In comparison, teams look forward to playing in the legendary
Pauley Pavilion because of the tradition and grandeur of the
building. Distractions from fans have previously not been a concern
for many teams. With the seating change, though, this could
change.
“I think it’s good for the atmosphere,” junior
point guard Cedric Bozeman said. “I did notice a difference;
you can hear the student section a lot more. I think it’s
going to help a lot. As long as we play well and get our fans into
it, I think it will be to our advantage.”
The change, however, has displaced the donor and player-guest
seats which previously flanked the student section to the concourse
area.
“I’m used to looking across and seeing my family in
the front row and now they’re pushed back and I see the
students there,” said center Ryan Hollins. “I love the
students, but I like to see my family a little closer. The students
are loud and they bring great energy. They definitely make an
impact in the game. … It’s just different.”
Alumni have also been affected by the change. Larry Davis, who
has had season tickets since he was a student in the early 1970s,
used to sit in the bleachers on the west side of the building to
where the band has now been relocated.
“I do think generally that basketball players care less
about alumni because the students make the noise,” he said.
“I don’t have a problem with the changes because I
think the band should get good seats, sometimes they outnumber the
paying students. The players are students, they want the student
support.”
In addition to the student seating change, the court at Pauley
Pavilion will officially be renamed the Nell and John Wooden Court
prior to the game against Michigan State game on Dec. 20.
“It wouldn’t have been done if it hadn’t been
named after both of us,” Wooden said. “Some years ago,
they wanted to rename Pauley Pavilion after me, and I said
absolutely not. Then this came up in the last couple of years, and
I thought it was very nice. I didn’t object to it.”