When UCLA fans travel to the newly opened Galen Center at USC
this Saturday to watch the Bruins take on the Trojans, they will be
getting a slight taste of what is soon to come to Westwood.
On Thursday, it was announced that UCLA plans to conduct a
renovation of Pauley Pavilion and hopes to dedicate the improved
arena to former Bruin coach John Wooden on Oct. 14, 2010 on his
100th birthday.
The home of the Bruins was designed by Wooden and architect
Welton Becket. Pauley Pavilion, which opened in 1965, was funded by
Edwin and Barbara Pauley and cost $5.2 million.
Improvements to Pauley Pavilion are expected to include the
addition of new locker rooms, a video room, a media room, a medical
treatment area and practice facilities.
Other concepts being considered include a new retractable
seating system that will bring fans behind the baselines closer to
the court and a variety of other seating changes.
UCLA Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero has established an
active volunteer leadership committee to assist in the designing
and funding of the renovation, and Wooden has agreed to serve as
the committee’s honorary chairman.
Currently, the arena is used to host UCLA’s basketball,
volleyball and gymnastics teams.
In the past it has hosted renowned entertainers, welcomed the
world during the 1984 Summer Olympics, and hosted a 1988
presidential debate.
The cost of the renovation is still undetermined and no
architects have yet been named to carry out the task.
PAC-10/BIG 12 ANNUAL SERIES: On Thursday, a
four-year deal was announced that has 10 Big 12 teams playing
against a member of the Pac-10 Conference, beginning in 2007.
The annual series is similar to the one between the Atlantic
Coast Conference and Big Ten and has finally come into effect after
several years of discussion.
The first two games of the series will be on Nov. 9, 2007 and
there will be two more each day through Dec. 2, 2007. The games
will occur in a stretch that will mark the onset of the NCAA
basketball season.
Though the television arrangements haven’t been announced
yet, the Pac-10 and Big 12 will likely announce them soon.
“The games will spotlight college basketball in early
December and will be excellent programming for our television
partners,” Pac-10 Commissioner Tom Hansen said. “I
commend the coaches of the two conferences for embracing the
competition.”
UCLA will play host to Texas, which is currently ranked No. 25
in the AP Poll. Other matchups include Texas A&M at Arizona,
Oregon at Kansas State, and Washington at Oklahoma State. The two
teams from the Big 12 that aren’t scheduled to play in the
newly established series are Kansas and Texas Tech, who will join
in 2008.
WRIGHT UNDERGOES MRI: Sophomore center Ryan
Wright had an MRI conducted on his right ankle on Wednesday, but
the results were negative and he is expected to play on Saturday.
Wright was seen walking on campus in a boot on Wednesday.
TICKET AVAILABILITY: UCLA’s official
ticket allotment for Saturday’s game was 500. Of those 500
tickets, 150 were allocated for students, including those playing
in the band.