Part of the Pauley Pavilion renovation plan that was unveiled to the public Monday afternoon focused on an increase in seating capacity and the impact the remodel will have on students, the basketball programs and the game-day environment in general.
The plan projects an increase from the current seating capacity of 12,800 to 14,000 once the project is completed in the fall of 2012.
UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said that students at basketball games will flip from the north side of the facility to the south side and will also be allocated seats behind the west visitors’ basket when Pauley reopens. But he did not specify whether students will be specifically allocated more seats in the remodeled arena.
“I believe that when we begin to develop the entire seating plan and things of that nature, we will have a better sense of what we are doing,” Guerrero said.
According to Guerrero, the remodel will include new retractable seating that will be closer to the court. In front of these seats, staging platforms with additional seats will thrust even closer and finally, three sets of courtside seats will border the hardwood.
The rest of the 1,200 added seats will fill in between the baskets as result of the remodel and will be sprinkled on both sides of the east and west baselines. There will also be a handful of seats added to the third level as a result of the reconfiguration of the aisles.
Yet between the platform seats and the courtside seats will be a six-foot gap left completely empty on all four sides of the court, as mandated by the fire marshal. Because Pauley Pavilion does not have space around the perimeter of the building to evacuate, space at court level became mandatory.
Both Guerrero and basketball coach Ben Howland said they thought the remodel would help create a more raucous home-court environment. Howland said having more students in Pauley closer to the court has been beneficial.
“We like having our students in here because they really are the most loud of any of the fans in terms of getting into it,” Howland said. “When Dan (Guerrero) arrived, students used to be up above. Now they are down here right next to the floor, and I think it’s changed the atmosphere over the past few years to make it a better one.”
Several USAC candidates in the recent election ran on a slate that included obtaining more seats in basketball games for students. Guerrero said that project planners recently held a “pretty comprehensive” meeting with a large group of students that included The Den and USAC officials.
“I believe what we gleaned from that is that we are moving in the right direction,” he said about meeting with students. “They are very pleased with what we are doing with the facility, that we are retaining the facility is a real positive.”
Exactly where current season ticket holders will reside in the remodeled Pauley Pavilion will be tied to donations by those who want to keep their seats or improve them. The physical seats themselves will be different as well; all bleachers will be removed in favor of chairs with cushioned backs, even in the student section.
“If you look at any renovation or new arena across the nation, that is how it is getting done,” Guerrero said. “It’s a combination of straight donation tied to seats and, of course, university involvement.”
Howland said that the renovation will be great for the basketball program long-term and should help with recruiting.
“This is going to help us a little more nationally,” Howland said. “It’s going to be a shot in the arm ““ no question.
He said he will begin talking more to recruits about the renovation plans now that they have been officially released.
“Every kid gets wowed,” Howland said. “Especially today’s kid by the facilities. When you put them right in the middle of this campus, you have the perfect storm.”
Construction will force the men’s and women’s basketball teams to relocate for the 2011-2012 season. During this time Guerrero said he is open to playing a few non-conference games at the Staples or Honda Center if there are not scheduling conflicts. But he sees most games being played in Inglewood.
“I think it would be great if we could get the USC game in (the Staples Center) and be able to fill that venue for that game,” he said. “The Forum is obviously a facility that would like to welcome us. I can see us playing the majority of our games there.”
Howland, for his part, dismissed any concerns about instability that season.
“I think just the excitement of the following year will far outweigh that,” he said. “I’m not worried about that at all.”