Before Pauley Pavilion opened its doors, basketball games were played at the Student Activities Center. Only back then, students didn’t refer to it as the SAC. They called it the B.O. Barn, and the smell wasn’t the only reason the venue was unsuitable. It was considered a fire hazard to have an occupancy over 1,300 people. Once UCLA started off its 10 national championships in 12 seasons streak, it was clear that our teams needed an upgraded venue, and Pauley Pavilion was established. University of California Regent Edwin W. Pauley donated $1 million out of the total $5 million needed to build the venue, and the building was dedicated to him at the June 1965 commencement ceremony. Since it’s opening, Pauley Pavilion has come to be used not only as a sports arena but a station for concerts, political events and many other special occasions.
1965: Pauley Pavilion’s first game 
The first game ever played at Pauley Pavilion was on November 27, 1965. This was also the first game at UCLA played by Lew Alcindor, also known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and there was a great deal of excitement about him as a new recruit. His successful high school career, in which he became the first sophomore to make Parade High School’s All-American team, stirred up anticipation about how he would perform at the collegiate level. 12,829 fans packed into Pauley to see him and the rest of the UCLA basketball team play. He didn’t let his fans down: at this game, he scored 51 points, helping the UCLA freshmen defeat the varsity 75-60. This was only the beginning of his successful career at UCLA, and in 2008, ESPN declared him the Greatest College Basketball Player of the Century.
1979: Bob Marley concert
Many UCLA students are aware that Pauley Pavilion has hosted an impressive list of musician performers. Throughout Pauley’s history, other musical performances have included Frank Sinatra, Bad Religion, Bob Dylan and Metallica. In 1979, it was Bob Marley’s turn to perform at Pauley Pavilion. Pauley Pavilion hosted Bob Marley & The Wailers on the Survival Tour to promote his band’s album “Survival”. This was the second-to-last tour of Bob Marley’s musical career.
1988: Presidential debate between George Bush and Michael Dukakis
With the election coming up, presidential debates are likely to be on UCLA students’ minds. However, they might not be aware that in 1988, Pauley Pavilion hosted the October 13 presidential debate for George Bush and Michael Dukakis. The originally planned venue for the debate withdrew its sponsorship as a host, and it was only six days before the debate when the Commission on Presidential Debates turned to UCLA to host this event. Pauley Pavilion was quickly transformed from a basketball arena into a television studio, with over 37 miles of cable and 412 telephones installed on campus to allow for media coverage. This debate was the last of the 1988 election season, and resulted in a growth in popularity for Bush that would eventually go on to support his winning in the election.
1992: MTV Video Music Awards show
Nirvana, Guns N’ Roses and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have also made their own history in Pauley Pavilion. They were part of the MTV Video Music Awards, hosted at Pauley in 1992. The MTV Video Music Awards is an awards ceremony that allows teenage and young adults to vote for artists, songs and music videos that they believe stand out as the best of the year. Nirvana took home the Best New Artist award that year, and used their performance to pull a prank on MTV by playing a few chords of their controversial song, “Rape Me,” to scare the network before continuing on with the appropriate song “Lithium.” This wasn’t the only scene they caused. During the performance, bassist Krist Novoselic threw his instrument in the air and hit himself in the head, resulting in him having to be treated by paramedics.
1994: Bill Clinton as keynote speaker
Pauley Pavilion has been home to much more than just great athletic accomplishment. On May 20, 1994, former President Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker in celebration of UCLA’s 75th anniversary. The university held an anniversary convocation, a formal ceremony. At this event, President Clinton addressed an audience of over 9,000 and received the UCLA Medal, the highest honor that UCLA awards to an individual. The UCLA medal is awarded to individuals who are distinguished both academically and professionally and who have significantly benefited the public with their contributions. In his address, President Clinton spoke directly to the students: “Americans of my generation have been bombarded by images … about the so-called “˜Generation X’ filled with cynics and slackers,” he said. “Well, what I have seen today is not a generation of slackers, but a generation of seekers. And I am much encouraged.”
1995: First Midnight Madness
Each year, Midnight Madness marks the celebration of the formal beginning of the NCAA basketball season. To celebrate Midnight Madness, collegiate basketball teams take the kickoff date of the season quite literally by holding their first team practice at 12:00 a.m. of the first day that the NCAA permits practices. This Midnight Madness celebration gives basketball fans the opportunity to be introduced to the new season’s basketball team and come out to cheer them on as they began their new season. On October 14, 1995 the first Midnight Madness in school history took place in Pauley Pavilion with the Bruins preparing to defend their national championship title. In fact, the Bruins were defending their 11th national championship title. Unfortunately, this was the only Midnight Madness in UCLA history.
1999 & 2004: Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards Show
Even UCLA students who never watched the annual Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards are probably familiar with the images of celebrities being splattered with green slime. In 2004, fans of Nickelodeon and Disney stars watched the Olsen twins get drenched in this slime at Pauley Pavilion. After using Pauley once before in 1999, Nickelodeon once again chose the stadium as the location for their annual Kids’ Choice Awards during the year of their landmark 25th anniversary. Pauley proved to be the right choice, with the structure of its ceiling making it possible for OutKast’s André 3000 to fly from the stage to the rooftop.
2008: Obama for Change rally
Prior to his first election, President Barack Obama came to Pauley Pavilion for the Every Woman for Obama Rally. Regardless of the fact that the rally took place on a Super Bowl Sunday, around 8,000 people filled up Pauley Pavilion to show their support for him as he progressed through his presidential campaign. In addition to Michelle Obama, there were many other guest speakers present, including Stevie Wonder, Caroline Kennedy and Oprah Winfrey. For many students, this was the first political rally they attended.
2009: Jay-Z and other guests perform at Pauley Pavilion
In 2009, Pauley Pavilion was once again transformed from a sports arena into an entirely new venue. This time, it was a major concert: Jay-Z took over Pauley Pavilion. Pauley was the venue for the Los Angeles stop on his 2009 tour for his album “The Blueprint 3,” which gave UCLA students an opportunity to have discounted tickets to his show. He started off the show with “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” and several other hits such as “Big Pimpin'” and “Empire State of Mind.” Even though this was his show, Jay-Z wasn’t necessarily the main attraction. About halfway through his set, Rihanna made a surprise appearance. This was a particularly big event for Rihanna, with it being her first performance in nine months since the assault by Chris Brown. She joined Jay-Z for their hit “Run this Town” and then took over for a while to perform “Hard” from her album “Rated R,” which had yet to be released at the time of the show.