UCLA's new on-campus basketball training and performance facility that will house the Bruins' storied men's and women's basketball programs will be named the Mo Ostin Basketball Center, it was announced today by Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero.
Named after legendary music industry executive and philanthropist Morris "Mo" Ostin, who generously committed $10 million to the project, the comprehensive, state-of-the-art facility will be located near Pauley Pavilion at the south end of the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
“This visionary project, made possible by the generosity of a visionary donor, propels us toward our goal of providing state-of-the-art training facilities that will help our players thrive and honor the rich and inspiring history of our basketball program,” Chancellor Gene D. Block said. “Mo Ostin is a tremendous friend of UCLA, and we could not be more grateful for his support.”
“People throw around the word ‘legend,’ but Mo Ostin quite literally is a music industry legend in every sense of the word,” said Guerrero. “It’s only fitting to have a Bruin alumnus of this magnitude associated with a basketball program that established the standard by which success is measured. We cannot thank Mo enough for this extremely generous gift and for leading the charge in helping our basketball program continue on the path of competitive greatness.”
In 2011, Ostin donated $10 million to UCLA for the construction of the state-of-the-art Evelyn and Mo Ostin Music Center, which opened in 2014.
Ostin, who holds a B.A. in economics from UCLA, is currently chairman emeritus of Warner Bros. Records. Over his illustrious career, Ostin was involved with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Randy Newman, Neil Young, James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, George Harrison, Paul Simon, Quincy Jones, Madonna, Prince, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 and presented with the Grammy Icon Award in 2007 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Ostin served at Warner Bros. Records for 32 years, 25 of them as chairman and chief executive officer, and later signed on to head the music arm of the entertainment conglomerate DreamWorks SKG.
"UCLA basketball is more than an athletic program; it is an iconic and uniquely Los Angeles institution," said Ostin. "It creates a sense of family, inspires an immense amount of pride and engenders a passionate following in ways this town rarely sees. From producing giants of the game like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to remarkable modern talents such as Russell Westbrook, UCLA basketball has withstood the test of time while reinventing itself as all things must. I hope this gift helps both preserve the legacy of UCLA basketball and propel it forward so future generations of Bruins can be as fortunate as I have been.”
Designed by award-winning architectural design firm Kevin Daly Architects in partnership with globally acclaimed high-performance design firm AECOM, the Mo Ostin Basketball Center will include locker rooms, athletic training areas, a strength and conditioning facility, coaches’ offices, team meeting rooms, equipment rooms and video rooms among its amenities. In addition, the facility will incorporate several elements paying homage to the rich history of UCLA basketball.
Since the official public announcement to raise private funds for a comprehensive basketball practice facility in May 2014, the UCLA Athletic Department has received approximately $15 million in cash and pledges to date. The project, estimated to cost between $30 and $40 million, will be funded by private donations and is scheduled to break ground this fall.
The project and its corresponding campaign to raise private funds are part of the $4.2 billion campuswide UCLA Centennial Campaign that was announced on May 15. The UCLA Athletic Department aims to surpass its $260 million goal by 2019. The Mo Ostin Basketball Center directly addresses the department's primary Centennial Campaign objective: to create a financially sustainable future to build upon UCLA’s standing as the premier intercollegiate athletics program in the nation.
For more information or to become involved in the Mo Ostin Basketball Center, call UCLA Development at 310-206-3302, or visit www.UCLABasketballFacility.com.
