Pauley update - Barnstorming Bruins in 2009-10?

by bruinhoo on Jul 23, 2007 9:25 PM PDT

Bumped from the diaries. - N

Rich Perleman at What's Bruin has posted an update on the status of the upcoming renovation of Pauley Pavilion, still planned for completion before Coach Wooden's 100th birthday in October 2010.

A whole list of projects has been drawn up, including - first and foremost - a change in the seating rise at both ends of the basketball court to bring fans closer to the endlines and increase the intensity of the atmosphere in the arena.

Additional programs which are on the list for development by highly-respected HOK Architects include renovations to the locker rooms, additional court spaces for practice, a complete restructuring of the concession stands and restrooms, the installation of a grand entrance on the north side of the building (the side which faces the Intramural Field), a Bruin store, a basketball-themed Hall of Fame exhibit and advanced media facilities.

These proposals track closely with speculation concerning the renovation that has been discussed here, as well as on other sites. Perelman also tends to the question of where the Bruins would play during the one season where Pauley will be unavailable for use. He cites discussion within the program of an intriguing and until now unmentioned option.

Preliminary discussions with potential venues such as Staples Center and The Forum have taken place, but internal discussions are also underway as to whether UCLA could use the year away from Pauley to be "Southern California's team" and play some games at a variety of venues, including the Honda Center in Anaheim - site of the Wooden Classic - and the Long Beach Arena. That's a decision that will not be made until the fund-raising is completed and the actual construction schedule is set.

My first reaction to the thought of a barnstorming Bruin team in 2009-10 is that of intrigue, but with concern that too much shuttling between arenas could be a detriment to the team's performance. A plan that IMHO could work is to play the Pac-10 schedule plus a couple of non-conference games at one site - preferably the Forum, the Wooden Classic @ Honda Center as usual, and to play selected non-conference games on a rotating basis between a couple of arenas in Southern California.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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I don't know

I love the IDEA of barnstorming around southern california for the season. Brings the team closer to more of the fan base and great for suburban communities that send students (and alumni money) to the school.

That said, the devil is in the details. We must address the first issue, money. How does this work for season ticket holders, really the most important part of the crowd. Sure they can get "comparable" seats, but it won't be the same and people who pay $3,500 and up for the good seats should expect comparable service, parking, etc... for every game. This may be difficult for the Morgan Center to provide.

Second is traveling to games. With absolutely no facts to back it up (flame away) I would say the majority of season ticket holders come from the Westside and the Valley. Are they going to want to go to a Thursday game in Ontario or Anaheim? Are they willing to shell out the money for all those games that require an hour or two commute. Even the biggest Bruin Fan would have to give a second thought about driving from Westlake Village to Anaheim for a Thursday night game against UCI before the Pac 10 season starts. Sure OC folk will show up and buy tix on StubHub.com, but are they UCLA or UCI fans.

Next issue is the players. Playing every home game in a different arena (or even in 3-4-5 arenas) would have to have an affect. Rims have a different feel, floors are different, locker rooms are different etc... Plus the fact that they would probably have to spend a couple hours in transit each way before and after. That means missing class etc... Why give up the home field advantage of a comfortable room. A single court could be made familiar by staging regular practices there.

I think that UCLA should follow it's older brother from the north and pick a close location that can accommodate a large crowd on a regular basis. The Forum is probably the best bet. Close in proximity (12 miles driving by Google Earth) and has some history with championship teams;-) It would be much easier to bus the students down to Inglewood than Long Beach or Anaheim or Riverside etc...

I guess I should respond to the diary above. I agree that playing the Pac 10 schedule and the "important" non conference games at one arena (agreed the Forum is the best) and then the non conference games spread around the southland is good. However I want to know how that impacts the season ticket holders who will already be put out that most of the games are in Inglewood.

So what does it mean. If we can have a state of the art basketball arena that matches our state of the art basketball program I will be happy. Hopefully they might play down here in San Diego once during this transformation of Pauley.

by MOlson on Jul 23, 2007 11:10 PM PDT 0 recs

Thanks for blogging this hoo

I was going to write about it this am. I like the idea of setting up our base either at the Forum or at Staples, and then play few OOC games in San Diego and the OC.

by Nestor on Jul 24, 2007 4:36 AM PDT 0 recs

I'd love for it to be Staples

Because if the Bruins can't be in the hallowed grounds of Pauley, they should have a world class arena befitting of a world class team. Unfortunately, the NCAA basketball season falls right in the middle of the NBA season, and 1 and a half NBA franchises (when the Clippers finally win something, they'll be a full franchise) occupy the building, so the scheduling would probably be an absolute nightmare.

by Tydides on Jul 24, 2007 6:29 AM PDT 0 recs

Staples can work

I know Staples is home to the Lakers, Clippers and Kings from late-October to mid-April. That's 123 home games between them over a span of 180 days.

But, if you look at UCLA's schedule, playing most of their home games in Staples could work.

Few NBA teams play regularly on Thursdays, since most of them play Friday nights.

And Staples is already used to having two games in one day (usually Clippers/Kings afternoon, Lakers at night) on weekends. Why not give UCLA the afternoon game on some Saturdays at Staples? If anything, two games in one day with a college game first would be easier, since college basketball games are usually half an hour shorter (and can start earlier, since CBS seems to like UCLA games at 10 or 11 a.m.)

I agree with Tydides -- if UCLA has to leave Pauley for a season, I'd rather them play in a world-class, famous arena like Staples.

by gilbert on Jul 24, 2007 9:15 AM PDT 0 recs

I would love for it to be Staples...

... esp. since I work in the Glendale/ Pasadena area.

PLUS, having the blue and gold bring quality hoops to downtown L.A., barely a few blocks away from the Fail-en Center -- aka Pauley East, where a BRUIN took the Jeopardy College Championship -- would be too much fun.

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Jul 24, 2007 9:30 AM PDT 0 recs

So when does the ground breaking start?

All this talk is distracting from the fact that there has been no ground breaking for the renovation yet. Does any one out there now when the ground breaking is to take place? Is there one even slated for the near future?

Victory or until next year!

by ncrpz2 on Jul 24, 2007 9:37 AM PDT 0 recs

remember, this is a college

I vote no way. this is a college, and should be fully accessible to the students, not just to the season ticket holder adults who can drive where ever. personally, i would not be able to attend all the games like previously if i had a midterm or class up until 7pm like before.

by gobruins2007 on Jul 24, 2007 10:29 AM PDT 0 recs

Where would you suggest?

My freshman year (with a defending NCAA champ), we schlepped to the Sports Arena. That really REALLY sucked.

But what is a more logical place than Staples? It can't be the SMCC gym (which is where some pre-Pauley games were played.) Maybe the Forum, if it still exists. But there doesn't seem to be a lot of alternatives.

by Fox 71 on Jul 24, 2007 11:31 AM PDT up 0 recs

Compromise will be necessary regardless

of location, as there is no sutiable venue on the westside other than the Forum, which as gobruins cites, is not a perfect solution from the student POV. As I originally posted, the primary consideration is to have the team playing in one site for the major games, which I see as being the Pac-10 home slate plus any high profile non-conference home game. As well, that site should host at least a couple of lesser non-conference games to allow the team to acclimate to the venue. As well, this would minimize the confusion and difficulties for ticketholders.

Regarding prospective traveling "home games", any games played outside of LA/OC should take place during Academic breaks. This would lessen any difficulty for the players in having to travel multiple hours, as well as lessen the impact of the loss of student attendance. IMO, a 2-game Bruin non-conference "homestand" (friday night, sunday afternoon for example) in San Diego would be a great idea, if scheduled in mid-December, between Fall Final exams and x-mas/start of Pac-10 play. Such timing lessens the inability of most students to make such a trip, as student attendance is traditionally lower during this period due to x-mas/quarter break.

Assuming that the team plays 18-19 home games, the season could be scheduled so to play 12-14 games in a central venue (GW Forum/Staples), 2 games in San Diego, 2 games in Anaheim and a couple of floater games, allowing for single games played elsewhere in the Southland (commenters on Perleman's blog have mentioned Long Beach and the Inland Empire).

by bruinhoo on Jul 24, 2007 1:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

Fox71 strikes again!!!

I was at SMCC too vs. Stanford, if I remember correctly. I vote for the Forum, if it can be resurrected to be usable. Plenty of parking, some protection from the war zone around it, and a decent place to play basketball just down the freeway.
Bill

BillSouthBay

by BillSouthBay on Jul 24, 2007 11:34 AM PDT 0 recs

How about

Men's Gym? He he he he! It won't hold too many people but it'll be damn loud!

My vote would be the Forum, with out of conference games in the Staples Center...

by tasser10 on Jul 24, 2007 11:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

YES!

I come from an old bruin family, my grandma had season tickets in 1949-1940 (yes, Wooden's second year as coach). She said that the team would play their games in the Men's Gym (I believe they called it the BO barn). If the team had to leave Pauly I elected we bring basketball back to where it was born at UCLA, the Men's Gym.

Victory or until next year!

by ncrpz2 on Jul 24, 2007 12:39 PM PDT up 0 recs

Men's gym

This is where the team practiced when I was in school (BO barn). FYI, coach Wooden, himself, swept the floor before every practice to ensure the team had a good surface to workout on.
Bill

BillSouthBay

by BillSouthBay on Jul 24, 2007 2:10 PM PDT 0 recs

The Pointe

There is an article in the fishwrap talking about a court that has been put up by Nike under a tent in Hollywood that is attracting a lot of the top college players and pros for workouts and summer league games. If they can put up a court on a vacant lot in Hollywood, why not a temporary facility somewhere on campus.

If memory serves me, when I was a student in the 70's, they had to close Powell library for earthquake retrofitting. They built a temporary library between the Men's and Women's Gyms. The same could be done for basketball.

by Bruin77 on Jul 24, 2007 5:11 PM PDT 0 recs

I wonder how this would affect scheduling

we'd probably see one or 2 more road games than usual and i wouldn't be surprised to see us play a couple marquee neitral court games, maybe in the bay area.

by ryebreadraz on Jul 24, 2007 6:20 PM PDT 0 recs