Galen Review
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.
Seriously man why are you so negative. I went to the game tonight and think the Galen Center is a very intimate setting that will provide a great home court advantage for the basketball team. The scoreboard is great, their didn't seem to be a bad seat in the house, and the band and crowd were very loud. Granted they didn't have all the signage up to give the halls some character, and food prices are high. But come on man, the place is going to be great. By the way are you serious its too drafty? Your reachin for negatives now. Next game wear a jacket.
Scott in the last few years you have witnessed arguably the greatest rub by a college football team. And now the building of an great arena that has been about 50 years in the making. And all you ever do is complain. Why don't you look for the positives going on at SC, cause right now they are everywhere.
I'm the first to criticize Scott when he's critical, but his post was a review of the arena, not to blow sunshine you know where on all us Trojan fans. I'm sure all of you know a review has to have good and bad parts.
Scott, footlong dogs HA Ha, only you
Let's raze that eye-sore. How dare they not build the perfect building!!
Seriously. I know this is just a blog, and you don't have to report anything you don't really want to. But was there nothing else positive about your experience last night other than video screens? Nothing at all?
Why did they even bother to build the place if all everyone is going to be doing is complaining? What a waste of space and money. I was planning to go to some b-ball games this year but not if I'm gonna have to put up with overflowing bathrooms and $7 hotdogs. Screw that.
What a steaming pile of dung. Thanks for the heads up Scott.
Seriously, could you be more critical? Guess that's why you're a journalist. You just point out imperfections in everything.
Scott,
The purpose behind a newspaper is to inform. These people are right you do write with a negative lean. I believe that a paper (or an associated blog) should be there to build up a community, not degrade positive effort. You have some level of control in this. Use you position to build.
Galen Center looked as goos as any facility as I have seen but they haven't finished yet.
I've waited over 35 years and can't wait to see it. There really can't be any serious complaints. Anything minor like overflows will be corrected. It is state of the art and it is OURS! Fight On!
Yep, the Sports Arena was clearly better.
Well, $7.50 for a hot dog is a little alarming, even if bacon-wrapped dogs on the street are now up to $4.
Come on man cut it out with all the negatives. They have not completed the arena. Im sure they will have filling decorations for the walls eventually.
I will give it to you about the Hot Dogs. No way in the world will I pay $7.50 for a hotdog anywhere. This is a college arena not the Stadium Club at Dodger Stadium.
Scott, you are unbelievable. We're talking about a new, state of the art arena and all you can do is complain? Jesus H. Christ! Why don't you go hang out at the Sports Arena during games? Maybe you and Petros can go together. I think I speak for a lot of SC fans when I say that both of you wouldn't be missed.
When I am sitting in my season seats in a NEW, STATE OF THE ART COLLEGE BASKETBALL ARENA and I start to feel a draft....I'll put on a sweatshirt. No big deal.
Mr. Wolf. These guys are right about your negativity. I was a Tues.-Wed. Host for touring Galen Founders to their seats. Nary a negative comment and very few asked to change/improve their seats. Actually, there was an evident excitement about Galen Center...and oh so much potential for both men's and women's BB to have a true home-court advantage. I read you in Pas. Star News...and like your often exclusives on various facets of USC sports, but, really, you could be more positive than your continuing negativity. Even T.J. Simers has abandoned his "humor at the expense of others" writing style in the last six months. (He has only slammed Dr. Steve Sample and Mike Garrett once or twice. Used to be a weekly razor cut). Having had season tickets to men's BB for more than 30 years, I can't wait for that first game...and that first Pac-10 game...when I'll be yelling louder than I have in those 30+ years.!!
"It's too early for a review but here I go with whatever negative I can scrounge up."
It's why some people critique instead of create. It really is easy but must not be too satisfying.
I'll bet you wouldn't talk about those negatives to the Galen's face would you. And what's with you hanging out in the women's restrooms recently. First the Coliseum now the Galen Center.
If you don't like the program then go cover the Bruins.
Scott, what exactly were you doing in the women's restroom? Oh, nevermind.
Are you sure you went to USC? It seems like you're trying not to be a homer so bad that you're over compensating on the negative stuff.
Don't do either. Just be objective.
Not paying contractor bonuses tends to cause overflowing toilets. Better not miss those KBR/Haliburton bonuses.
What do you expect from the lowest bidder? US workers are lazy. They just want a paycheck so they can buy beer and cigarettes.
Scott: Thanks for your heads up (according to your objective analysis) on the dung hill that is the Galen Center. To think I almost bought season tickets to support my alma mater only to be forced to sit in that drafty squalor. Brrrr! Thanks again...
As a former USC Men's Volleyball Alum, I was in heaven seeing the new arena, remembering the old North Gym where we played. The new VB coach, Bill Ferguson, gave some of us VB alums a tour of the locker room, huge weight room and training room, definetely state of the art. A great recruiting tool. The arena is simply beautiful!
Regarding your negative comments, I cannot figure out what is motivating you. Yes, I saw the
bannisters limiting access from behind the baskets, but perhaps it was done that way for crowd control since there are only four floor exists. Also, the food...for an opening night, it was great with gourmet chicken sandwiches at $5.50, Chicken Ceasar salads at $7.00 and Italian sausages at $5.00. Somehow you failed to mention that a regular hot dog was $3.50 and the $7.50 dog was a half-pounder... From everyone else's reaction that I talked to last night, you appear to be in a very small minority, perhaps from Westwood.
Eftzoons, are you the same person that post on USCFootball.com? You have really been negative about USC in your post lately.
Whats is that about bro?
Sheesh, you guys want him to write superlatives when it isn't super? How silly are all these "don't be negative" posts? It's what he thinks of the arena. I'd like to know the good with the bad, and especially the bad to be honest. I want to know what to expect. I can see the good stuff. Why do those who want a reporter to be a cheerleader even read the paper? Just read the dumb-o blogs where everything is positive and children say Go Trojans no matter what. I'm an old Trojan. I read newspapers for honest reports, not cheerleading. Grow up kids. If your ego is so tied to USC that anything negative hurts your feelings then it's time for some serious therapy.
Hey John! Talk about egos? I am so impressed with you thick skin LA attitude! A lot of people both old and young have wanted to see this building finished. Scott Wolf's articles and blogs are consist of negative jabs...NOT honest reporting. It is a personality trait that some would want him to take constructive feedback on while covering their school. It does give people a sense of pride versus apathy. Regarding growing up...if I get to be leather skinned like yourself...gladly shoot me.
John, decorations? women's bathroom backing up? end zone seats in an arena?, foot-long hot dogs...well I'm sure you know about SW and that one! That's not reporting about sports.