Over the past several months, small changes have been made on the north side of Pauley Pavilion.

The trees were cut down and the dirt was replaced with asphalt at the beginning of spring quarter. A walkway was built over the steps down to Parking Lot 7 two weeks ago, and a chain-link fence was erected this past weekend.

Students have seen these signs of the looming Pauley Pavilion renovation, and today the project will finally begin with a groundbreaking ceremony. The symbolic start of the construction will eventually segue to the actual $136 million project.

This afternoon, university administrators as well as Bruin players and coaches who are part of the arena’s storied past will be at the east exterior concourse of Pauley Pavilion for the ceremony. Festivities will begin at 12:30 p.m. with the UCLA Spirit Squad and UCLA Bruin Marching Band, and the official ceremony will begin at 1 p.m.

Construction will begin shortly on the outer concourse set to wrap the 45-year-old stadium, but the interior of Pauley Pavilion will remain open until March 2011.

The largest part of the outer concourse, the North Lobby, will extend 40 feet into Bruin Walk by the Intramural Field.

Chuck White, the public address announcer during UCLA men’s basketball games, will begin the ceremony, introducing the speakers. Chancellor Gene Block, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Janina Montero, All-American gymnast Anna Li, Athletic Director Dan Guerrero and Matt Pauley, vice chair of the Campaign of Champions, will all speak before putting shovels into the ground. Pauley’s grandfather, Edwin W. Pauley, made the $1 million lead gift for the original construction of the arena.

Men’s basketball coach Ben Howland, men’s volleyball coach Al Scates and women’s volleyball coach Mike Sealy will also be in attendance, among other Bruin athletes and coaches.

Compiled by Farzad Mashhood, Bruin Sports senior staff.

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