UCLA Unveils New Ticketing Plan For Renovated Pauley Pavilion
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Many Fans Expected To Pay More For Tickets
When Pauley Pavilion Renovations Are Complete |
UCLA Tuesday unveiled a plan that "ranks ticket holders, giving credit to alumni, loyal season-ticket holders and, most of all, donors who help pay" for the $185M renovation of Pauley Pavilion, according to David Wharton of the L.A. TIMES. It "appears many fans will pay more to remain at or near their current locations when the arena reopens in 2012," but the "exact increases won't be clear until late next week when ticket holders receive personalized statements informing them of their ranking." Courtside seats at the arena "will require a $500,000 donation to the capital campaign, payable over five years, plus an annual donation of $17,000 per seat to the Wooden Athletic Fund." That puts the annual cost of two seats "close to the action at $134,000 over the first five years." Meanwhile, a one-time donation of $30,000 or more "assures up to four seats mostly between the baskets in the lower half of the bowl." Those tickets "require annual Wooden fund donations of $2,000 to $4,000 per seat, plus the face value of the tickets." In past seasons, UCLA "asked for only the face value plus a Wooden fund donation." UCLA AD Dan Guerrero said that the school has $53M in donations and pledges for the renovation, "which goes before the UC Regents this month" (L.A. TIMES, 7/1). In L.A., Brian Dohn noted UCLA "studied numerous point-system models, including those of Louisville, Arizona, Duke, Connecticut and Virginia, to determine how to structure its point system." The "real scurrying for seats could come for people trying to retain their seats between the baskets on the lower level." Some ticket holders "might donate as much as $25,000 annually, but others are donating less than $500 annually, and that is for all their seats" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/1).
NAME VALUE: Guerrero said that UCLA has "had talks with a potential donor about purchasing the name attachment rights" to Pauley Pavilion for $40M. However, he "declined to reveal if UCLA has spoken with more than one party about the name attachment rights." Guerrero said that UCLA during renovations "will likely play the majority of its games for the 2011-12 season at The Forum but also expects to play some games at Honda Center and Staples Center as well." He added that the team is "looking at playing a weekend Pac-10 series at Honda Center in addition to the annual Wooden Classic" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 6/30).
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