Pauley Pavilion - Significant Events

Significant Events

Pauley Pavilion has been the venue for many other sports championships, concerts, commencement ceremonies and political events.

Concert performers have included Bob Marley, Bad Religion, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, Eric Clapton, The Grateful Dead, Phish, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, and Faith No More, among others.

In 1970, Frank Zappa appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra performing Zappa's orchestral music. Zubin Mehta directed the orchestra in what would become the soundtrack for Zappa's movie 200 Motels. Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention recorded Just Another Band from L.A. in Pauley Pavilion in 1972.

In 1984, it was the Los Angeles venue for the 1984 Summer Olympics Men's and Women's gymnastics and Women's rhythmic gymnastics events. Mary Lou Retton became the first Olympic gymnast outside of Eastern Europe ever to have won the Olympic all-around title.

On April 26, 1986, a birthday tribute for actress/comedienne Carol Burnett was held inside. Singer Neil Diamond performed Sweet Caroline in her honor.

Two years later in 1988, it was the site of a presidential election debate between George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis. Dukakis also held his final election-eve rally here, hosted by the UCLA Bruin Democrats.

In 1994, composer Henry Mancini, having learned he had terminal cancer, gave his last concert at Pauley Pavilion.

In 2009, UCLA Spring Sing made its Pauley Pavilion return on May 8, having switched from the smaller Los Angeles Tennis Center to this much larger venue due to its popularity and overwhelming demand.

On February 26, 2011, the Bruins hosted their last men's basketball home game against the Arizona Wildcats before extensive renovations were scheduled to begin. Tyler Trapani, great grandson of Coach John Wooden and member of UCLA's team, fittingly scored the last goal in the old arena. The 1971 National Champions were honored at halftime.

In 1982, the center court jump circle was replaced. It was later autographed by coach John Wooden and several former Bruins' players including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton. It was acquired by a private party and consigned to a sports memorabilia auction where it sold May 1, 2011 for $325,085, the most ever paid for a piece of college basketball memorabilia.

Almost every year since its inception, the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards have been held inside the arena.

Following the completion of the renovation, Pauley Pavilion will host the NCAA women's gymnastics championships on April 19–21, 2013 and the NCAA men's volleyball championships on May 2 & 4, 2013.

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