UCLA's Pauley Pavilion is set to make its re-debut on November 9 (when the men's basketball team will play Indian State). The arena has been under-construction since May 2010, getting a makeover designed by NBBJ. The main entrance has been moved to a new glassy north side concourse, which hosts some new concessions; the south side now has an outdoor marketplace (where you can get your popcorn, peanuts, and food truck food). There's also a new "bright and spacious concourse" winding around the building, decorated with a Championship Wall and a Wooden Way honoring legendary coach John Wooden--the wood paneling there once laid on the old basketball court floor, according to UCLA. Inside, there are new blue seats that stretch all the way down to the court (1,000 more than before) and one gold seat at Section 104, Row B, Seat 6, for the late Coach Wooden.
There are also new handrails, a new video scoreboard, and a new LED ribbon, plus a new lighting system that "will allow UCLA technicians to use special production effects, such as spotlighting players during introductions." So expect a lot of bright flashing things. On a more practical note, Pauley now "has four times as many women's restrooms as before, while the number of men's restrooms has more than doubled." For the players, there are new locker rooms, a new weight room, and a student lounge.
Men's volleyball head coach John Speraw says "I still feel like this is Pauley as I remember it. You walk in, and it still feels like, 'Oh, I played here.' But everything else is nicer."
· Students and fans get first peek inside the new Pauley Pavilion [UCLA Newsroom]
· ConstructionWatching the Makeover at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion [Curbed LA]
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