As mentioned this am, UCLA is planning to unveil more information this week about their plans to renovate Pauley. Apparently Dan Guerrero sat down with few of the beat writers today to give everyone a preview. We already have some nuggets out courtesy of the Daily News and the OC Register. Dohn's early post has some info on fundraising update:

UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said the school has $53 million in pledges, meaning they are more than halfway to the goal of $100 million.
He also said naming rights (UCLA is using a more politically appealing term) for the arena could go for $40 million, but that could be used to offset the cost of bonds rather than toward the "Campaign of Champions" goal of raising the $100 million.

IMHO even though we are talking about pledges the numbers here is fairly positive (given the current state of the economy). Should be interesting to see what term UCLA will be using. The information is going to be posted sometime Wednesday afternoon on the official site. I guess I am somewhat ambivalent about naming rights. Before making any judgment on the current efforts, I'd like to see the details on what does it entail when it comes to naming rights.

Also DG mentioned that Forum will likely be the venue for 2011-12 season. From the OC Register's UCLA Blog:

UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero told reporters Tuesday that the Forum likely will be the primary venue during the 2011-12 season while Pauley Pavilion undergoes renovation.

The Bruins also expect to play at Pac-10 weekend at Honda Center in Anaheim as well as some games at Staples Center.

We already kind of knew that's where we were headed though. I kind of like the idea of UCLA basketball spreading around the greater Southern California area (including the OC where the fans tend to be lot more livelier) further strengthening the connection with the communities beyond LA. Guess we will find out more details on the plan tomorrow.

GO BRUINS.

Let's revisit the topic of Pauley renovation again. It's clear the opinion on this topic here on BN is fluid at least in this Bruin community. Last week immediately after the public announcement at Pauley the opinion here was fairly positive as about 68 percent of BN were either "very impressed" and "impressed" with what they have seen and read about the plan.

Well after a lot of great back and forth discussion it seems like the opinion has shifted. The number of folks who are  either "very impressed" and "impressed" has now dipped to 45 percent and 30 percent of BN are now "unsure" about the project. Meanwhile, there is a big article in the LA Times  today which features criticisms from two individual whose comments might be perceived as sour grapes because of roles in the ongoing renovation project.

Criticism in the LA Times features comments from Richard Bergman. If you remember Bergman aired his complaints about the project previously in the Daily News. Bergman has been upset because the UCLA officials apparently to move on beyond hm because he reportedly tried to impose his own "solutions" re. the renovation project on the school via his individual outreach to other donors.

So Bergman per the LA Times enlisted the help of a gym buddy to get second opinions on Pauley renovation:

By last fall, while others on the committee supported the new plans, Bergman had grown dissatisfied and sought outside advice.

Frank Gehry, who designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall, knew Bergman from the gym where they both worked out and agreed to take a look.

He subsequently contacted UC officials, saying he thought UCLA had "slipped away" from addressing the arena's most pressing needs.

"I just thought I should write the [UC] president because of Richard's concerns," Gehry said. "I was trying to help him make his point."

Okay. Another person offering up criticisms in the LAT piece is Michael Hallmark, one of the designers behind Staples Center:

Pauley Pavilion tends to clog because fans move about within the seating bowl. Modern arenas have solved this problem by adding concourses, wide outer rings that allow patrons to walk more freely, visiting restrooms and snack bars before re-entering the bowl through tunnels.

The NBBJ plan adds concourses of varying widths along three sides, with traffic redirected back inside the bowl along the western end.

"Just as in roadway design," Hallmark's analysis states, "turns and curves slow down movement, create confusion and frustration."

The architect suggests that the concourses are too narrow and that, by reducing the overall number of vertical aisles, NBBJ is making the rows in some sections too long.

He wants UCLA to convene a peer review of independent experts to revisit these and other issues.

"It's just a very convoluted plan," he said. "I would be shocked if you didn't get 10 sports architects to all render that viewpoint."

Well Hallmark is certainly not one of those "independent" experts.  Per the LAT report Hallmark "served as a consultant early in the Pauley Pavilion project and, when HOK Sport dropped out of the picture, he paired with another firm to vie for the job." So it's not like he is lobbing critcisms at the current project from an impartial pov given that he had lost out on bids for renovations.

The pov that I found interesting was that of David Kahn who is not aligned with any particular side. Per the Times report he is an alumnus and former general manager of the Indiana Pacers, who has "experience" with the construction of Conseco Fieldhouse (which at least on TV seems like a very cool gym with old school feel). And it appears that the school administrators are interested in hearing some of Kahn's suggestions:

So administrators appear to have closed the door on major design changes, though they will consider smaller adjustments.

Toward that end, Kahn will visit from Indianapolis early this week. If nothing else, the former NBA executive can talk about living through an arena project.

During the construction of Conseco Fieldhouse, the pro franchise weathered criticism for its plans. Kahn recalls trying to build a consensus but noted "that's easier said than done."

More than anything, he believes, UCLA officials must be sure of their goals as they work through two-plus years of construction, pointing toward Pauley Pavilion's grand re-opening in the fall of 2012.

"You want to make certain that when it's finally done, most of those [negative] feelings will be eroded," he said. "Meaning people will walk in and say, 'Oh my God, they really did this right.' "

I think that is an encouraging note. Right now I totally understand that not everyone is happy. However, after reading lot of the suggestions and constructive (and passionate criticisms) about this project I am still in watchful waiting mode. So far from what I have heard from Howland and even Neuheisel, it sounds like they are excited about it. That matters at least to me. I also understand that lot of folks want a brand new gym that will offer a cozy home experience while a daunting one for the road team. But the comments from Barnes2JJ last week really struck a cord with yours truly:

[P]auley is special because of its players and coaches. Maybe the building and fans didn’t win any titles—I don’t know. I wasn’t there. But if you cremate the building and build something new and call it Pauley, you won’t be able to say Alcindor played here. Or Walton. Or Ed O’Bannon. You could say that those guys played in the building which used to be here.

To that comment, some of you will say “Big Deal.” Fair enough. Maybe it’s the romantic in me talking, but I like to visit places which have some historical significance, even if they are not an architectural gem. If you knock Pauley down, you can hang up the banners and call it Pauley, but the new building will have no historical value whatsoever. And that’s a fact.

I will tell you this. I know the current version of Pauley needs a facelift. But I will tell you exactly how I felt when I walk in there. I feel the same way as many Red Sox fans feel when they walk into Fenway (a park I have been to many times). There is a romantic value to Pauley that I can't put into words. That building is lot more than just a basketball arena to me. It is where I had my graduation. It is where I shared lot of incredible moments with some of my lifelong friends. So my heart aligns more with the effort of renovating it so that it preserves as much of its traditional mystique as possible. I know everyone doesn't agree with me on that point and that is totally fine.

Ultimately, it will be up to DG and Chancellor Block to shepherd this renovation project within the targeted time frame. It will be impossible for them to make everyone happy. That wull never happen. However, if they can follow Kahn's advice about making sure of their goals and taking in as many practical suggestions as possible to build a consensus, I think they might be able to pull this through. We will see. For now I am still going to be in watchful waiting (and following very closely) to see how they followup with their announcement from last week.

GO BRUINS.

Photo courtesy of CampaignOfCampions.com

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The project to raise $100 million for the Pauley Pavilion renovation is called The Campaign of Champions. Well, I was under the impression that a champion was the best of the best so I hope the champions that the campaign is referring to are those on the executive committee because based on what the Morgan Center has released thus far, the Pauley Pavilion renovation is not the best of the best. I was there yesterday and I’ve heard just about everything available on the project as well as a few other things and again, I’m unimpressed.

The 200 and 300 levels are no closer. It says there’s a new film room. Well, that’s nice, but five teams use Pauley so either some teams are left out of there’s going to be a fight for film room time. There are no suites anywhere in the arena so the renovation doesn’t maximize revenue needed to fund the other sports. The added space for locker rooms/sports medicine/film rooms/weight room will be less than half the size of the pavilion at Galen Center which holds the same rooms in addition to a practice court that seats 1,000 and has three sections that can hold nine volleyball courts or four basketball courts. I’m sorry, but for all the faults of Galen Center and the fact that I’d take banners over facilities any day, from a purely technical aspect, it doesn’t look like Pauley matches up. I’m aware of the issues with space and the footprint, but is this the best we could do?

I know there was concern about the need for UCLA's arena to be multi-purpose, but there are countless examples around the country of multi-purpose arenas that are outstanding for basketball at the same time. Cal’s Haas Pavilion, Pitt’s Petersen Events Center and Texas Tech’s United Spirit Center are all examples of retractable seating that allows for multiple sports to be played there while still making for a fantastic basketball venue. The multi-purpose aspect of UCLA’s arena is not an issue.

As for cost, USC built Galen Center for $160 million and included the entire pavilion next to it with the practice courts, film rooms, sports medicine area, etc. That was built during a much different economy so while raising money was likely easier, the cost to build was also more then. Oregon’s new 12,500 seat arena will cost $200 million and includes all the over the top aspects we’ve come to expect from Oregon as well as two practice courts and an underground parking garage. Oregon is obviously going to go above and beyond becaause that’s what they do, but if $200 million gets you above and beyond, then I think it’s safe to say that $185 million can get you amazing, especially when you consider Galen Center was $160 million.

Once again, I feel as if the Morgan Center went for good enough instead of exceptional and the best it can be. It's possible that the Morgan Center has done a poor job conveying the exact details of the plan and that there's a lot more to the renovation than we currently know. I doubt that's the case, but it's possible. As of now, I can only feel as if the Morgan Center and everyone involved came up short so I sure hope that at some point in the near future they address what appear to be many a shortcoming.

The plans as is are nice and get the job done, but there’s no way you could convince me that this is the best it can be. You couldn’t convince me that this will serve the students, fans and athletes as best as it possibly can. I’m sorry, but what I’m seeing won’t make Pauley the best or one of the best arenas in the nation. It will make it a very nice arena, but will rely on the history there to carry it into the upper echelon. What it should be is one of the nicest with a history that puts it head and shoulders above the rest. Oregon's arena is the most expensive on-campus arena ever built and we’re very close to it, so why does ours feel a large step below theirs?

Photo Credit: www.campaignofchampions.com

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I have to say I am a little suprised by the early results of our poll question asking about folks' initial impression about Pauley renovation plan. So far about 68 percent of BN are either "very impressed" and "impressed" with what they have seen and read about the plan. As for myself, I haven't voted in the poll yet and I am leaning towards voting "unsure" because I still don't know what to make of this.

Let me start with the features I like. I like how the redesign is supposed to look from the outside because it preserves the traditional feel of Pauley while working in a modern look. I like the idea of spending a lot of effort to work in historical displays, graphics, team stores with UCLA goodies all around the arena, because I thought that was always missing from the current arena.

I like the fact that the new design makes an effort to fill out the cavernous spaces behind the baskets, by bringing the bleachers in, making room for 1,000 more seats. I am ok with preserving the traditional look and feel inside the arena. It looks slick.  I also think the new redesign of the locker rooms, player lounges, weight rooms, equipment rooms etc will be extremely helpful for Coach Howland and his staff on the recruiting trail. They have already been immensely succesful. I have to think the way the renovated arena looks in these graphics will help them evangelize even more effectively about the greatest basketball program in the country.

That said I am not sure about few things. One of the biggest reasons I thought Pauley needed renovation because our home court often doesn't feel intimidating (besides the mystic of banners) with crowd noise and participation. I know the Bruin Den gives their all every game (well except for the Holidays). However, when a team visits at Pauley, I don't think it experiences the same hostile experience it encounters at a place like Cameron or Mac Court.

I thought the renovation plans would be an excellent opportunity to bring the seats even closer, and lay them out at a steeper angle, that would allow the Pauley crowd to be right on the top of the opposing team, helping out the defensive efforts of our Ben Ball warriors. Right now after watching the video, seeing the designs and reading about the plan, I am not so sure whether that new plan achieves that goal. The seats don't look like they are set up at a steep angle putting them right on top of the players. Moreover, it looks like there are still open spaces around the corners. It does't appear to me that the people sitting at the highest section will have any better view of the court.  I think if the new renovation plan doesn't lead to a more boisterous and energized UCLA home crowd at basketball games, that would be a disappointment. That's just me though. Perhaps others have different thoughts.

There is all the seating issue. From the LA Times today:

[A]s UCLA officials unveiled their vision for an updated Pauley Pavilion on Monday afternoon, filling in blanks about a proposed $185-million project, an equally important question lurked in the not-so-distant future.

The university will look to trade choice seats for big donations, which could prompt some season-ticket holders to worry whether they will be pushed farther from the action.

"I think people are going to be concerned about the seating plan," Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said. "That's probably the biggest issue."

Big enough that officials decided to postpone giving any details at their announcement ceremony, opting to use the next few weeks to review the situation.

Guerrero said his department is trying to hone a point system that balances new donors with loyal fans who have stuck with the Bruins for decades.

I wonder what the general sentiment is among those folks who have had seats for decades. Are they going to fork up donations for a plan that to me (from what I can see and read so far) doesn't really seem to dramatically change the sightlines from 200 and 300 sections? I don't know and I think it could be a mistake for UCLA administration to alienate those fans without satisfactorly answering all their questions and concerns about how the new arena is supposed to improve their game watching experience at UCLA.

BTW, it looks like the officials (including Pauleys) are open to attaching a corporate name to the redesigned Pauley:

UCLA officials have also received authorization from the Pauley family for an accompanying corporate naming rights deal to the arena, Guerrero said, "under the right circumstances."

Funding for the project will come from fees, long-term debt and private funding raised as part of "Pauley Pavilion Campaign of Champions" a $100 million fundraising drive launched today. The campaign has already received $52.5 million in commitment from donors and sponsors, UCLA officials said.

As mentioned yesterday while the renovation is taking place UCLA teams will probably playing most of their games at the old Showtime Forum, sprinkling in few at the Pond and perhaps at the Staples Center.

Going back to redesign,  one of the questions I have been getting is whether UCLA could have gotten a brand new arena by spending $185 million.  I know ther has been lot of intense/heated discussions back and forth on message boards where posters have pointed out how a numbers of state of art arenas have been built around the country spending far less amount. The counter to that has been that it costs a lot more to build projects at a place like UCLA (given its high end location). However, that argument hasn't been convincing to its critics. Again, this is something I am not sure where I fall in because I feel like I don't have all the facts and datapoints to reach a conclusion on it. So I am really interested to hear from Bruins with architecture and design backgrounds. If you have ideas, numbers you want to share, I would love to read and learn about it. I am sure as will others here on BN.

GO BRUINS.

Pauley Pavilion Expansion/Renovation (source: official site)

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So the big announcement on Pauley renovations was today. Rye was there and live blogging from the annoucement ceremony all afternoon. Now we can take a look. The video is now up on a new site: www.campaignofchampions.com/

They don't have an embeddable version of the video available (yet). If they want to get the word around they should get one up asap, because that will spread the word faster.

Morgan Center released the following highlights of the renovation plan in their official release (HT jlegs):

Here is a shot of what the new locker room would look:

Photo Credit: Official Site

More highlights:

Per rye CBH seemed "excited" at the ceremony today (he certain seems excited and energized about it in the video that was linked above). Bruin legends Mike Warren and Ann Meyers-Drysdale  played the role of "cheer leaders" (as they did in the video as well) this afternoon. Here is what Chancellor Block and DG had to say about the plans in the official release:

"Pauley Pavilion is hallowed ground," said Dan Guerrero, Director of Athletics. "This iconic building has been home to many historic events and some of the greatest athletes to ever compete in intercollegiate athletics. Now is the time to create a 'new' Pauley Pavilion - one that will continue to serve the UCLA community for many years to come.

"There have been a number of wonderful moments during my time at UCLA, but the introduction of this project sits right at the top. I would like to thank the University and especially Chancellor Gene Block, not only for his commitment to our Athletic program, but for his leadership, vision, and support of this landmark project. Pauley Pavilion is a special place and this renovation will keep it among the nation's elite venues.

Right now per the "current timeline" construction is supposed to being in February 2010. For the first year the focus is supposed to be on the north side and exterior of the facility. Pauley Pavilion will close at the end of 2011 season for interior works. At that point our teams will be playing at alternate sites. I am assuming they will be playing at venues such as Stapels Center, the Pond in Anaheim. That might not be a bad thing because it will give fans who normally don't get to come out to Westwood to check out the Bruins (and they often tend to be crazier than the Pauley crowd which could be fun). The project is supposed to be completed by Fall of 2012.

You can get lot more details including the new "seating plan" by going over CampaignofChampions website. We will of course keep an eye on how the project is doing. How DG and Block manage this project might be one of the defining aspects (if not the one) of the legacies they will leave in Westwood.

GO BRUINS.

UPDATE (N): Video highlights from today's events is up (HT to uclabruin34):

Pauley Pavilion Renovation Announcement (via UCLA)

GO BRUINS.

Morgan Center gives us a little glimpse of what they have on mind for Pauley renovation:

Got the image from the official site.

Remember they have a big announcement on the renovation scheduled for next Monday, May 11 at Pauley.

Around 1 pm that afternoon  Chancellor Gene Block and Dan Guerrero will give their first public presentation of "both the renovation plan" that "will modernize" the House that Coach Wooden built, and  "the fund-raising plan" which they are calling "the Campaign of Champions".

Of course Coach Ben Howland will be there. He will discuss the project with Bruin All-America alumni Mike Warren and Ann Meyers Drysdale. They will also a special video highlighting the renovation, which I think some of you who have been lucky to attend the banquet and alumni events have already seen

I know some of you already have concerns about the renovation plan. I respect that. However, for many of us we actually want to see what the plan entails, get the details, and also hear the perspectives from our coaches and players. I am not ready to reach a conclusion until I see what the folks have in mind and am anxious to hear and learn more about it.

Doors (Gates 1 and 2 of Pauley Pavilion) open at 12:30 pm, announcement begins at 1:00 pm. If you are on and around campus, show up, check it out, and blog about it here on BN.

GO BRUINS.

So in case you missed it last week Brian Dohn ran an interesting update re. Pauley restoration in the Daily News. Apparently DG thinks the Pauley restoration will still get done by the current target of the start of 2012-12 season:

Guerrero added that fund raising could move to a public stage in the next few months and ground should be broken early next year.

"We're making very good progress on all fronts - fund raising, timetables, things of that nature," Guerrero said. "Everyone is committed on this campus to see this project through."

DG made the assertion despite firing of Richard Bergmen -  "the Executive Committee chairman" - who was in charge of overseeing the renovation:

Bergman, who pledged $1 million to the  The firing (Chancellor Gene Block's decision per the DN report. - BN Ed.) was borne out of Bergman's disapproval of how UCLA's athletic department plans to partially fund the estimated $185 million project, and also a disagreement in design plans. project, said he was informed of Block's decision late last month.

"I support the project and the facilities are desperately needed," Bergman said. "The set of plans, and the financing arrangement that UCLA has put forth, I just can't support. They basically said, `You've got to go and support the project, whatever we have here,' and I can't do that. I don't believe that's what my charge was, so I let them know I can't support this particular set of plans."

Hmm. I have never heard much of Richard Bergman. From a quick google search it appears that he is a UCLA alumnus who has been a big donor to the university over the years. From an article published in the LA Times in 2000 re. alumni donating to UCLA:

UCLA alumnus Richard A. Bergman was one of those who gave a hefty sum and has helped solicit gifts from others. He and his wife donated $1 million to endow a professorship in business economics, a popular undergraduate major that didn't exist when he attended UCLA in the early 1970s.

"It's something that I thought was missing when I was there," Bergman said. He transferred to Cal State Northridge for his senior year so he could get the accounting courses he needed to be more employable as a certified public accountant.

Now an investment firm manager, Bergman said he wants to give something back to the institutions that helped him become successful.

"I got a great education at UCLA," he said, "and want to do something to help those who follow me."

Well while I am sure the university administration officials are grateful for what Bergman has done for fundraising over the years, I don't blame university officials if the firing decision was based on wanting to get rid of donor who was attempting to micro manage a little too much.

Apparently Bergman made a $1 million "irrevocable pledge" to UCLA and it is unclear whether UCLA officials will ask him to honor that pledge. For his part Bergman (per the report at least) is trying to offer his own "solutions" re. his specific concerns with the design of the renovation project. From Dohn's report:

"I made an irrevocable pledge," Bergman said. "There are some discussions as to whether they've given me an option to let me out if I want. I still believe in the project, but I don't believe in this financing plan, and this specific design plan."

In an e-mail to the "Campaign of Champions Executive Committee" announcing he was being replaced, Bergman wrote he "pledged to honor the legacy, principles and core values developed under" former basketball coach John Wooden and "I look forward to continuing to fulfill that pledge."

On April 22, Bergman is hosting a meeting at a hotel near the UCLA campus to discuss the renovation project with potential donors.

Although he invited UCLA athletic administrators to attend, sources said none are planning to do so.

"My goal is not to impose any solutions," Bergman said. "It's to sort of offer my view that there are (other solutions) out there, and UCLA should look at those."

Uhmm. Again I wouldn't blame UCLA officials if they decide to move on beyond this guy if he tries to impose his own "solutions" on the school via his individual outreach to other donors. That wouldn't be good form on Bergman's part.

Speaking of the project DG maintains that fundraising is on target (along with the timetable of finishing it by 2012-13 season):

When the UC Regents meet during the first week of May, UCLA's athletic department must have $50 million in written, verbal and cash pledges to proceed with the project. Guerrero said $46 million has been pledged, although sources said only $17 million is in signed pledges.

"We anticipate that we will get to the $50 million mark by next week," said Guerrero, who acknowledged the nation's economic plight is being felt.

"We have not seen anyone that we expected to support the project, not support the project. There may be cases where we possibly anticipated seeing a larger donation, but not to the degree that it has hurt our effort."

Well at this point I think we have heard enough talk from UCLA officials. While I am grateful to DG for bringing us Ben Howland and so far his move wrt to bringing in Rick Neuheisel looks all right, I really believe how he handles this Paule restoration project will be a huge measure of his legacy at UCLA. DG needs to get this project done in a timely fashion so that Coach Howland and his Ben Ball warriors get to play the first game in a renovated Pauley with Coach Wooden sitting in his familiar place. If DG doesn't get that done, it would be a huge black mark in his tenure at Westwood. We will leave it at that for now.

GO BRUINS.

The Daily Bruin published a story yesterday about the Pauley Pavilion renovation.

If I were going to be sarcastic, I'd make a joke about how the whole project is euphemistically called the Pauley Pavilion Renovation -- as if it were a real and tangible thing, like it is going to happen some time soon.

Hang on, let's look at some of what the story says, just so we're all on the same page:

When UCLA first began to plan its Pauley Pavilion renovation project, Edwin Pauley’s heirs were among the first individuals contacted.

The building was dedicated to Edwin Pauley when it opened in 1965, in honor of his service as a UC regent and philanthropist and his donation to fund the building’s original construction.

Athletic Director Dan Guerrero sat down with the Pauley family to discuss the possibility of changing the historic venue’s name and selling the rights to a corporate sponsor.

The Pauley family understood the possible need for a name change and offered the very first donation to the project. Guerrero said the donation was unsolicited.

Okay ... and:

UCLA initially announced the project Jan. 11, 2007, when it hoped to have construction completed by legendary basketball coach John Wooden’s 100th birthday, Oct. 14, 2010. Since that announcement, the project has moved slowly, as UCLA has sought to raise funds for the project.

While a 2012 completion date is now most likely, the pace of the planning stages should pick up considerably this summer when the school receives design plans from NBBJ, an architecture firm it hired Feb. 7. Those plans will provide an exact definition of the scope and magnitude for the renovation.

The plans are a preliminary aspect of the overall project, but they will still be a significant step in the timeline Guerrero has laid out for the project’s completion. He said the school plans to begin construction “in the early part of 2010.”

Among the concerns that NBBJ will address in its plans are concessions, a new entrance, fan circulation and seismic regulations.

But for many involved, those tweaks to the arena are not as centrally as important as the history behind Pauley, and its emblematic status on campus. The 43-year-old facility has housed 38 national championship teams and Wooden’s dynasty. The school’s hope to preserve and bolster that legacy is at the fore of the talks to improve the arena.

“Pauley represents John Wooden in many ways, who represents the best in all of us,” Chancellor Gene Block said in an interview with the Daily Bruin in May. “It’s an icon on campus.”

There's more, of course, I encourage you to read the whole story, but now you get the gist.

Let me make a couple of point.

The first set of block quotes represent a good sign, a small sign, but a good sign.

This is because there is no way to do this project "right" without basically re-doing the building and there is no way to re-do the building without corporate money and there is no way to get corporate money without letting the corporation hang a big sign on the outside with their name on it.

And that sign is almost certainly going to be bigger than the sign that says "Pauley."

Traditionalists were and are a stumbling block here. They -- whoever they are -- don't want to mess with tradition and don't want UCLA to play its basketball games in anything not called "Pauley Pavilion" or something close. I don't have a link, but if memory serves, you can count Coach John Wooden among this group, I believe he once said he would have nothing to do with a new building if it wasn't Pauley Pavilion. Wooden, of course, was a great coach, but his favorite musical act was the Mills Brothers -- as much as we love him, we can't let him have too much say over the aesthetics of our new basketball environment.

But Coach Wooden aside, I don't think the traditionalists should have too much say on this project. If you are going to do this, do it right, raise the money and build a state of the art arena and call it whatever you have to call it. I tip my hat -- heck, I bow down -- to the generosity of the Pauley family. But mostly I admire the fact that even they see the light and realize that a change in the name might be what it takes to build a new gym.

As for the rest, I call bullshit on the 2012 completion date.

Just look at the history of the major construction projects on campus. For the record, they still haven't moved completely into the new hospital. I don't have the dates in front of me, but they are years late on completing that project.

As for Pauley, there is no funding in place yet. There are no plans. They haven't broken ground.

And we're talking about the government here.

But you know what really scares me:

The best cast scenario is that Ben Howland won't coach in the new gym until like Year Nine or Year Ten of his tenure. Before Howland even moved here from Pittsburgh, he expressed the necessity of a new building. I bet he never thought he'd have to wait a decade.

What if there are delays? (That might be the funniest thing I've ever written -- it's not a matter of What? ... we all know it's really a question of "How many delays ... ) What if he gets tired of waiting. What if one season away from home becomes two?

Look, I don't know the enormity and scope of doing a project like this. I know it takes time. I know it isn't easy. I know the project relies on the money of people who aren't me. So, I'm mindful of not being too critical.

But I do have to say: I don't believe anything I read or anything anyone says about the Pauley Pavilion renovation. I won't believe anything until I see it with my own eyes.