“Wow. What a difference 40 years makes,” says Jamaal Wilkes ’74, upon seeing the new Pauley Pavilion. Pauley Pavilion reopened this fall after a 33-month, $136-million makeover with a jam-packed week of celebration for the entire Bruin family. Students, parents, alumni, donors, staff and faculty packed the spectacular new incarnation of UCLA’s venerable venue — which first opened in 1965 — for a series of events commemorating the new Pauley. They toured the wide and brilliant concourse that surrounds the building and includes a Jamba Juice, California Pizza Kitchen and 100 flat-screen TVs. They admired the bowl, expanded to include more than 13,000 seats to bring fans closer to the action. And they strolled along Wooden Way, an engaging look at the life and career of legendary UCLA Men’s Basketball Coach John Wooden.
Pauley Welcome Week kicked off with the Campaign of Champions Celebration, honoring and thanking the major benefactors who made the renovation possible. Thousands filled the space for Pauley Opening Madness, a free student celebration held in conjunction with Parents’ Weekend and Homecoming. And, of course, the very first game in the new Pauley on Nov. 9, when the UCLA men’s basketball team beat John Wooden’s former team, Indiana State, 86-59.
