In fall 2012, UCLA’s fans and students will walk into a sparkling, state-of-the-art Pauley Pavilion. The $136 million project will modernize the space inside, outside and beneath Pauley. Several UCLA teams will be forced to relocate during construction, but the potential improvements Pauley will see promise to keep optimism high until the new Pauley Pavilion is up and running.
The construction broke ground on May 11. Chancellor Gene Block, Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, and several student-athletes and coaches attended the ceremony.
The $136 million price tag will be taken care of primarily by private donations, which are expected to total $100 million. The Student Seismic Fee will supply $10 million, and the rest will come from long-term debt financing.
After construction, Pauley will hold about 14,000 seats, up from the 12,800. The student section will move from the north end to the south end of Pauley. There will also be student seating behind the west basket.
Pauley will continue to house UCLA teams until March 2011, when the inside of the facility closes for construction. The closure will force the men’s and women’s basketball teams, men’s and women’s volleyball teams and the gymnastics team to relocate until fall 2012.
The improvements will extend below ground where new locker rooms, a film room, a weight room and a lounge for student-athletes will be added.