Count me among those who waited more than 20 years for the opening of the Galen Center. The most pleasant surprise was the energy created by the arena around the corner of Figueroa St. and Jefferson Blvd., a previously dead area.
There is still a lot of work to be done on the arena, so it’s hard to make too many judgments. But if you’re a woman, you couldn’t be too pleased when the first-floor restroom overflowed before the volleyball match.

One of the other big problems is for fans sitting in the end zones. They are penned in by railing and unable to walk to the floor level or the other sections without walking all the way up the stairs and around the back of the arena.
This might be a way to keep students cooped up, but it exists on both sides.
Another problem was the draftiness, which used to be a negative at the Sports Arena. The area surrounding the concession stands was drafty and if ventured down to courtside where the volleyball teams benches were, there were also complaints.
Part of the draftiness also comes from the huge, sterile cement walls. It provided all the character of a Costco but I’m guessing decorations will be added soon.
Oh, and another thing. A foot-long hot dog for $7.50!!!!
These are all things that a “test run” helps correct, hopefully.
The biggest plus is the scoreboard-video screens, which were originally going to be smaller before the university wisely opted for the larger model.