Banners in the Sky

Official Review by Drew Cieszynski, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

When you think about championship banners, venues such as the Boston Garden, The Forum, and Yankee Stadium come to mind. When you take these thoughts to the collegiate level, Pauley Pavilion has to be at the forefront. With now eleven Men's Basketball titles under its belt, the home of the UCLA Bruins is sure to intimidate any opponent.

The facility was opened in 1965 and was named for the primary donor, Regent Edwin W. Pauley. The original cost of the facility eclipsed the $5 million mark with contributions coming from the state, the student body, and the alumni.

Like the Duke Blue Devils, the court itself is given its own name to honor an individual that made countless contributions to the program. On Decemeber 20, 2003, former coach Wooden and his wife, Nell, were honored as the court was named "Nell & John Wooden Court."

The arena has 10,337 permanent padded seats and an additional 2,482 seats in the form of retractable bleachers giving it a total capacity of 12,829 although some of the bigger games have eclipsed 13,000.

Food & Beverage    2

The food and beverage portion was easily the most disappointing portion of the venue. Most fans have access to roughly four or five concession stands throughout the arena and many of them do not offer more than a few feet of standing room.

The highest selling items include the "small" hot dog ($3.75), the "Bruin" Dog ($4.50), and pizza ($3.25 cheese and $3.50 pepperoni). None of these looked remotely appetizing, but I tried the Bruin Dog which was nothing more than your typical gas station hot dog. The bun was rather stale, but I did enjoy the numerous condiments on hand to dress the dog.

Other items on the limited menu included popcorn ($3.50), nachos ($4.25), extra cheese ($0.50), pretzel ($3.50), candy (including M&M's, Red Vines, Cracker Jacks for $2.75), peanuts ($2.75), chips ($1.25), Haagen-Dazs bar ($4.50), Dreyer's Dibs ($4), Minute Maid frozen lemonade ($4), Nestle Crunch ($4), or a vanilla Drumstick ($4).

If you can find a small room off of the concourse, you will get some additional options that are a bit elevated from normal fare. Unfortunately these items are pre-prepared and sitting in a cooler for fans to purchase. These items include sushi ($9), turkey, Italian, or veggie sub ($5), grilled chicken caesar, smoked turkey pesto, or rio ciabatta sandwich ($7.50), chicken caesar salad, waldorf salad, crudite plate, or cheese plate ($7.50).

Beverage options are extremely limited and do not include alcohol. Soda options include Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite ($2.75 small, $3.50 medium, $4 large), Bottled Water ($3.75), Odwalla fruit smoothie (Strawberry, blackberry, or orange $4.50), Powerade ($3.75), Red Bull ($4.50), coffee ($3.50), or fresh squeezed orange juice ($4.50), but I question how fresh it really is.

The only reason I give this menu more than a single point is that fans are allowed to bring their own food items in the arena, a rarity in modern venues.

Atmosphere    4

If you haven't already read about it in my Rose Bowl review, the most notable part of any Bruins game is the "8 Clap." This cheer consists of 8 consecutive claps, lifting your right hand and shouting "U," followed by 3 claps, lifting the left hand and shouting "C," followed by 3 claps, then alternating hands and doing the same for the "L" and the "A." Then quickly they chant "U-C-L-A" while rotating hands and "Fight! Fight! Fight!" You will certainly hear this at least a dozen times during any game.

The entertainment starts out with Van Halen's "Right Now" and a slow clap led by the Bruins cheer squad. Eventually two large Bruin flags will come running out followed by the players.

After warm-ups, to get the fans ready for the action, a member of the cheer team leads the crowd with the typical "Give me a B"¦" chant until they yelled out "What's that spell?" Then fans are asked to hold their hands in the air until they go into the 8 clap.

Throughout the game, you'll notice things on the scoreboard such as the Bruin shuffle, which is basically a form of find the ball under the correct hat or images of historic UCLA basketball moments.

At halftime, they offered the Bruin Varsity Club Knockout. This featured a game of knockout between several highly successful UCLA graduates including World Series champion Tim Leary.

One very positive aspect of Pauley is that it holds sound very well and can get extremely loud, so if you're not paying attention, you'll suddenly know when a big play occurs. Adding to the sound is the UCLA "Yell Crew" who stops in at many of the sections to get the fans started with a chant on 8 clap.

Clearly the atmosphere is defined by the winning tradition, but the fan interaction (below) and the noise levels make this one of the best in all of college basketball.

Neighborhood    4

The UCLA campus is mammoth, so there are not a lot of options in the immediate vicinity, but keep in mind that Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills are just minutes away so there is literally something for everyone nearby.

Diddy Riese has been serving ice cream and cookies to Westwood since 1983. This Diddy is more popular than even Sean "Diddy" Combs with the UCLA students as their fare comes at very reasonable prices. I would highly recommend stopping by and trying one of their ice cream sandwiches. Not your same old chocolate wafers with vanilla ice cream between them, you can choose from 12 flavors of ice cream as your filling and from 10 types of freshly baked cookies as your "bread."

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse is another option that is quickly growing in popularity in Southern California with now over 100 locations. They specialize in deep dish pizza, 1/2 pound angus burgers, giant stuffed potatoes, spinach stuffed mushrooms, fried artichokes, and avocado egg rolls. Every BJ's location will offer eight year-round beers on tap and several specialty beers depending on the time of year. Save room for dessert as the "Pizookie" is said to be created here, which is a freshly baked cookie served in a pizza pan with vanilla ice cream.

Sepi's Giant Submarines is another local favorite. With a menu that offers nearly 20 different subs and 5 wraps among other things, fans are sure to find their favorite. Newly remodeled with televisions and a nice selection of beers, this place can make for an inexpensive evening to watch the Bruins if you are not at Pauley.

If you are in the mood for pizza, try Enzo's Pizza which offers slices and whole pies until at least 3 AM. You'll hear the sound of Sinatra and even see some prints of the Godfather among the red and white checkered tablecloths. Beyond pizza, they serve lasagna, chicken dishes, and sandwiches.

The Westwood Brewing Company can be found in the center of the Westwood Village and offers an extensive beer menu. Two stories high, you'll find entertainment such as karaoke or comedians on the second story on given nights. It isn't the fanciest of places, but with televisions and over 30 beers on tap, good times can be had by all.

O'Hara's is a younger bar formerly known as Maloney's. Often filled with college students, its claim to fame is the liters of cheap beer. Several TVs are on hand and lots of music is played throughout the evening, but it is said that the lines to get in can be ridiculous.

Other local options include Rubio's, In-N-Out Burger (very close to Pauley), Panda Express, Burger King, Mr. Noodle, Socko's, Habibi Cafe, Gypsy Cafe, and California Pizza Kitchen.

Fans    4

With so much success over the years, it has been relatively easy for the fanbase to become large and passionate. I felt as if I was the only fan in the arena not wearing the true blue and gold and it seemed that every fan knew the 8-clap since they came out of the womb.

Without a lot of modern amenities, there was nothing for the fans to do but to be into the game. There was no lagging crowd or fans slow to get to their seats after periods. Fans were extremely attentive and cheered vigorously for every point, substitution, and end of period.

The student section was not as passionate as I would have expected. Unfortunately, they are rather removed from the court and don't have much of an affect on the opposing team. At capacity, this section is roughly 1,750 deep.

Access    2

The UCLA campus is located in Westwood, and as a result, fans are likely to face some frustrating traffic on the way to the game. To get to Pauley Pavilion, you'll likely take either the 10 Freeway or the 405 Freeway and take the Wilshire Boulevard exit.

Once you approach the arena, take note of the many signs directing fans to the parking. Most spots go for approximately $10 and appear to be in a secure area.

Once inside the arena, fans will notice four levels of seating. Closest to the court is the single row of courtside seats opposite the player benches. Next are four sets of bleachers on each of the four sides of the court. Unfortunately, the bleachers behind the baskets seem to be a good 40 feet removed from the court, leaving a large, gaping hole between the fans and the action. The mid-section contains padded, fold-down "true blue" seats that completely encircle the court. Depending on where you enter, you will have to walk up or down a set of steps to get to your seats. Finally, at the top are sections of gold seats that also circle the entire way around the arena. You'll definitely have to walk a small flight of steps to get to any of these seats. Unfortunately, many of these seats are obstructed by guardrails and if there is a bewildered fan trying to find their seat, prepare yourself from some serious obstructions. The lights above these seats are dimmed during gameplay.

The restrooms are limited as I only noticed two on the upper concourse. Once inside, you'll find them rather small and a bit banged up. The good news however, is that there was a sign showing you how to properly wash your hands.

Possibly most unique regarding this arena is the exit doors are seemingly steps away from all seats. Between every section is a set of exit doors, so any fan can quickly head out to their vehicle. I would be generous to call the concourse miniscule, as it has several staff members on patrol to make sure fans do not stop along it as it would cause several fan "pileups."

While there is a larger souvenir stand hidden in a room off the main concourse, there are also two smaller stands throughout the arena that were most laughable as the presentation matched one that you would find in a truck stop.

The railings on the main concourse have not been painted anytime recently and many of the seats throughout the arena are stained. Although spacious, the seats do not offer cupholders.

If you do step away from your seats, prepare for some for long lines and extremely claustrophobic feelings. While there are televisions by the internal concessions, they will not do you much good as they seem to be well over 10 years old and offer some very blurry views.

The main scoreboard offers nothing more than the score, the period, and a very low-definition video screen. The speakers on the scoreboard are a bit muffled and it's tough to make out any sound, namely the player names during the starting lineups. There are additional horizontal scoreboards in the upper corners of the arena, but do not offer much more in the form of statistics.


One plus in the Access section is that the media are treated much like most fans sitting high above the action in the upper section with some not-so-primo seating. Their seats are nothing more than foldable chairs on wooden counters with internet access.

Return on Investment    3

It appears that ticket prices vary based on the magnitude of the game. Depending on the contest, the uppermost seats go for $30-$40, while the middle section goes for $50-$60, and the bleacher seats are $70-$80. I assume the courtside seats are only for the most important donors.

If a fan purchases a mini-plan, or package of games, they can save 12% off the normal ticket price.

As a first time viewer, I had no problem paying the price of admission and the $10 parking fee to see one of the most historic venues in all of college basketball. Being a repeat attendee however will probably require a very good UCLA team or some very good competition. To pay roughly $50 for a seat that may be obstructed in a rather antiquated arena is a bit of a stretch with all of the other entertainment options in Los Angeles.

Extras    4

The arena itself offered two specific extras that I noted on my visit, but there are numerous more when you consider the past of the Pavilion.

First and foremost are the banners. No other NCAA Men's program has as many as the Bruins have on display at Pauley. Now eleven in total, the first of the championships came in 1964 and the most recent in occurred 1995. The banners hang over the concourse rather than the court itself or on a wall like they do at the Staples Center. Each of the banners has a blue background with gold print showing the year and the phrase "National Champions." While many schools proudly display their conference championships, UCLA scoffs at such an idea. In fact, while UCLA won the NIT tournament in 1985, fans won't see the banner today as it was removed in 1995 as UCLA aspires for only the best.

Another nice touch before the game was the cheer team and Joe Bruin taking photos with all fans. Every fan passing through the concourse was given an opportunity to have their photo taken with the mascot and some of the students of UCLA.

It was here that UCLA called home while achieving its longest home winning streak. While the streak itself went 98 games before a loss to Oregon in 1976, it spanned over six seasons where Pauley became one of the most intimidating venues for opponents to play in.

A rather odd extra near one of the concession stands was a Samsung charging station. Similar to what you see in many airports, fans could plug in their phones or other electronic devices for a period of time to increase their charge.

Beginning in 1990, UCLA began retiring the jerseys of several of their notable players. The first two inductees to be named were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (#33 who played as Lew Alcindor) and Bill Walton (#32). In 1996, four additional players were retired as Walt Hazzard (#42), Sidney Wicks (#35), Marques Johnson (#54), and Ed O'Bannon (#31). In 2004, a seventh member was added as Gail Goodrich (#25) also had his number retired during the game that commemorated the 40th anniversary of UCLA's first championship.

The Pavilion has hosted its share of big games beyond just the winning streak. In 1987, the first Pacific 10 (Pac 10) Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was held here as the Bruins were the first tournament champions. It hosted the 1984 Summer Olympics as the Men's and Women's gymnastics competitions were held here. It has also been the site of three first/second rounds of the NCAA tournament (1979, '81, and '88) and five regionals of the same tournament (1966, '69, '73, '76, and '84).

The only Midnight Madness ceremony ever held at Pauley was on October 14, 1995, the first day of practice after UCLA won its eleventh national championship.

Final Thoughts

If I were to sum up my visit to Pauley in one word, it would probably be "surprising" as it had none of the modern amenities of a major program, nor did it have a historic feel that many other famous venues have. Sure, the arena played home to a lot of tradition, but you wouldn't really know it beyond the less-than-exciting banner placement throughout the facility.

I am most anxious to see the renovations that are said to be complete in 2012 at a cost of approximately $185 million. A project to give Pauley Pavilion a makeover was first announced in 2007 and was to be complete by 2010 in time for John Wooden's 100th birthday. Fund-raising for the renovations began in 2009 and the ground-breaking occurred in 2010. I quickly noted the exterior maintenance that had begun on the arena when I arrived. Much of the surrounding area was blocked off by fences and there was no aesthetic beauty visible.

Some of the enhancements to Pauley Pavilion are said to include centering the court, improved locker rooms and training facilities, capacity raised to 14,000, more restrooms and concessions, a high definition scoreboard, railings on all aisles, and an LED ribbon board surrounding the arena. Of course, while much of this construction is occurring, the Bruins would have to find a temporary home that could include the Staples Center, the Forum, or the Honda Center.

There is no doubt that the UCLA Bruins must field competitive and entertaining basketball season after season, however the age of Pauley Pavilion prevents the experience from becoming a top rated one. With the upcoming renovations however, the home of the Bruins will once again be an upper echelon venue to see college basketball.

Follow Drew's journeys through Southern California on twitter @Big10Drew.