A partial clip of Pauley Pavilion renovation project. The clip shows drawings of what the exterior...

A partial clip of Pauley Pavilion renovation project. The clip shows drawings of what the exterior might look like. Looks like the designers are planning tol bring the seats closer to the court, more restrooms and concessions for the interior. Looks cool but the important part is that it needs to get done soon (or at least by the target date of 2012-13 season). GO BRUINS

almost 3 years ago Nestor 7 comments 1 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I like what I'm seeing.

Those conceptual animation videos look very nice as does the sketches. It’s clear that enough of the existing building will be incorporated into the new design to give a sense of a new “same old Pauley.” That in itself will be a great nod to the past (achievements) while looking forward to the future (championships).

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Apr 14, 2009 4:44 PM PDT reply actions

I'm not a fan

I don’t really like the exterior. The glass is a more modern look, while the brick is a more retro look, but I don’t think this design meshes he two very well. Most importantly though, I don’t like the seating. It looks like they are simply going to add seats around the court to make it a more intimate atmosphere, but I don’t think that’s the best way to go. Doing so still keeps the second and third levels the same distance from the court and not only do seats need to be closer to the court, but those second and third levels need to be closer.

I may be wrong because I just have a few computer generated fly-bys to go on, but it looks to me like it’s coming out as I feared. Because they have chosen to renovate Pauley instead of building a new arena the costs are higher so the arena will not be up to par with some of the better ones out there. It’d be much better if they could move all of the seats closer to the court, but that would be expensive. Instead, it looks like they’re going to lower the court and just add seats, which is cheaper. The more I hear and see about this renovation, the more I think a new arena is the better way to go.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 14, 2009 5:01 PM PDT reply actions

I'm guessing that route is a non-starter with the donors though right?

I love Pauley and I would hate to see it torn down, but our guys deserve an intimidating homecourt ASAP. What’s the timeline on a new arena as compared to a renovation?

by Tydides on Apr 14, 2009 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't know the timeline

because I don’t think there is one. The idea was dismissed very quickly (wrongly so IMO) and they never explored the option to the point where they’d have a timeline. My issue here is that by just lowering the court and putting more seats in the current empty space will give the feel of the NBA arenas that also host hockey. The lower seats behind the basket will not be very steep and the second and third levels, especially behind the baskets, will be farther away from the court than necessary.

Frankly, at first glance, it looks like we’re going to have a second rate facility at first class money because of our insistence on keeping Pauley. I love the place and have very fond memories of the place, but I’d rather our teams (keep in mind how many teams use the place) have a first class new arena then a second class Pauley. The arena will no doubt be much improved, but how long will it be before it’s in need of another renovation because it’s not up to par now? I could very well be wrong about all of this, but based on what I’ve seen and heard from some people, I’m not encouraged.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 15, 2009 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Target for completing renovation is beginning of 2012-13 BB season

That gives us roughly 3 year 7 months from today. It tooks about 18 months to build Staples Center so I am pretty sure a new arena could be built within the same time frame. However, there are a lot of alumni who would not want to tear down Pauley so that is why we are going the renovation route. From the computer animations, it looks like a lot of the old Pauley will be incorporated in the new design. I guess they didn’t want to go the route where they tear everything down but a small wall so it’s consider a remodeling and not a new structure.

by Gen2Bruin1987 on Apr 15, 2009 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions

FWIW

I like the interior a lot more than the exterior.

by Tydides on Apr 14, 2009 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions

The interior looks better than the exterior IMO

but the exterior functions better than the interior and first glance. I don’t have the seating numbers (despite my efforts to find out) so I’m not 100% sure if it will suffice, but if I had to pick a seating bowl I would take the Indiana Pacer’s Conseco Fieldhouse and just leave out the third level. If we had their bottom two levels (even with the suites because they’re not intrusive there) I think it would be perfect, even if we had to add some rows to each level to get capacity to the 12,000-13,000 range.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 15, 2009 12:35 AM PDT up reply actions