City College athletics has welcomed the construction of the new Sports Pavilion.
It will have four stories housing gymnasiums, offices, fitness centers and dance rooms. Along with sports the facility will also serve as a community and natural disaster recovery center.
The location will be the same as the old Physical Education Building on East Campus. The area was chosen to take advantage of the ocean view.
The new facility was made possible by the $34 million in state funds and $71 million in the Measure P bond.
For athletic students, City College has installed temporary locker rooms, restrooms and showers near La Playa Stadium for student-athletes’ use.
While construction is underway some City College sports teams have had to relocate.
Basketball and volleyball athletes relocated home games to Robertson Gym at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) until further notice.
The sports that will be played in the Robertson Gym building will include women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, men’s volleyball, physical education and dance courses.
“We are exceptionally grateful to these community partners for welcoming us and allowing our student athletes to continue to practice and compete,” Athletic Director LaDeane Hansten said. The administration collaborated their efforts to make this possible.
The practice location for basketball is Bishop High School, while volleyball practices at the Page Youth Center.
Sandrine Krul, women’s basketball head coach said that the new Sports Pavilion development could become a huge turning point for the athletes at City College.
“It’s not just great for athletes, it’s great for the students because if it comes out the way that the architects have said then everybody benefits,” Krul said.
Krul points out her appreciation for this new opportunity coming to campus, and that it will open doorways for many aspiring student-athletes.
Krul said the basketball team has learned further collaboration and resilience due to the location adjustment. She pointed out that Hansten and Physical Education Department Chair Kathleen O’Connor have put in the work to ensure that the sports teams have access to a safe place for practice.
“I’ve only heard excited comments from locals about the beautiful design and the potential for positive community impact,” Hansten said.
The building is currently in the demolition process of construction, anticipated to last another four months and after the building process will begin.
The estimated completion date is April 2026, with an estimated opening date of late summer 2028.
