He’s Not Crazy About Cameron

I found your attempt to illustrate the problems at Pauley Pavilion by contrasting it with sites such as Cameron Indoor Arena wanting [“Drawing Blanks, March 1]. Despite Duke’s claim that Cameron seats 9,314, the highest attendance on record for a Duke game is 8,572. UCLA’s “problematic� average attendance this season of 8,217 would effectively sell out Cameron.

Moreover, UCLA would have to reduce its season-ticket sales (10,598) in order for the Bruins to call Cameron home. Finally, as anyone who has watched a game at Cameron can attest, it is a miserable venue: The building is 60 years old and smells like it, almost half of Cameron’s seats are bleacher seats, and there is dangerously little space between the sideline and seats. Enough hype.

You are correct that Pauley’s environment needs some work: The number of season tickets should be further reduced, an Internet exchange should be established to encourage season-ticket holders to resell and exchange tickets for games they cannot attend, the student section should be enlarged and moved closer to the court, more seats should be added behind the baskets (graciously reserved for fans and bands supporting the opposition), ticket prices should be modestly reduced, etc.

Perhaps UCLA’s next athletic director will be more attuned to the decline in Pauley’s environment; it appears that Pete Dalis is in a continual state of surprise about such matters.

ANTHONY HOWE, Winston-Salem, N.C.