USD Announces Multi-Million Dollar Upgrades to Jenny Craig Pavilion

SAN DIEGO — The University of San Diego on Friday evening announced a multi-million dollar investment into improvements at the Jenny Craig Pavilion (JCP), the on-campus home of the Toreros’ women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball programs as well as high-profile campus and regional events. The improvements to the JCP were made possible by a generous gift from Jenny Craig, who, alongside her late husband Sid, provided the lead gift for the arena’s original construction back in 1997.

Completed earlier this year in May, the project features significant, state-of-the-art upgrades to the JCP, including a four-sided center-hung videoboard, two end wall ribbon boards, production room upgrades for both in-arena and broadcast content, and a complete overhaul and replacement of the venue’s sports lighting and audio systems.

A second phase of the project included major renovations and upgrades to USD volleyball’s locker room and coaches offices, as well as the addition of a team lounge and auditorium for film study.   

Gameday accommodations for both USD men’s and women’s basketball were also upgraded, and the space that previously served as the JCP Fitness Center will be redeveloped into a multipurpose Student Development Center that will serve more than 400 San Diego student-athletes.

“USD has once again benefited from the generosity of Jenny Craig and her family in further enhancing the beautiful facility that bears her name,” said USD President James T. Harris III, D.Ed. “The Jenny Craig Pavilion is synonymous with high-profile, milestone events and experiences, and thanks to these upgrades will continue to serve the USD community, our student-athletes and the greater San Diego community for years to come. We are deeply grateful for all that Jenny has done for USD over the years.”

Since first opening its doors to fans in the fall of 2000, the Jenny Craig Pavilion has served as a beloved centerpiece for important University of San Diego athletic and campus events alike, including a visit from the Dalai Lama, four West Coast Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, and numerous concerts, convocations, and commencements. 

Most recently, the JCP hosted first and second-round matches in the 2022 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament, with the Toreros twice emerging victorious before a combined crowd of nearly 5,000 San Diego fans.

"The completion of the renovations to the Jenny Craig Pavilion demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the experience for our student-athletes and fans," said Kimya Massey, USD Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics. "With these upgrades, the JCP now stands as one of the premier venues in the West Coast Conference and will have a lasting impact on our men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as our volleyball team, by providing them with top-tier facilities that elevate their training, performance, and overall experience at USD. I am grateful to Jenny Craig and her family for their continued generosity and support of our program. We are confident these improvements will significantly enrich our programs and create an unmatched game-day atmosphere from the moment fans step into the Pavilion."

The original gift that allowed the construction of the venue to get underway was both a monumental donation and a special Christmas present from Sidney to Jenny Craig back in 1997. Sidney surprised his wife at a holiday party at their home by announcing that he had made a $10 million donation in her name to sponsor what would become the Jenny Craig Pavilion at USD.

According to a USD Magazine article at the time, Sidney Craig joked that he “...was looking for something exciting for Jenny for Christmas, but wasn't really looking for a $10 million gift."

"This gift was one of those things that just felt right," he continued. "Jenny has devoted her entire life to fitness and health, and the sports pavilion seemed like a natural tie-in."

Over the years thousands of student athletes, families, fans and community members have enjoyed the facility and benefited from the generosity of the Craigs and their investment in USD. 

TECHNICAL UPGRADES AND SPECIFICATIONS

At the heart of the JCP’s renovations is the new center-hung videoboard, designed by AJP and manufactured and installed by Daktronics. The videoboard boasts four 4mm pixel pitch LED displays, two sideline displays measuring 13 '2 " x 22' 11”, and two endzone displays at 16’5” x 9’10”.

Additional design highlights include underbelly displays for spectators seated close to the court and a custom illuminated “SD” logo branding on the bottom of the scoreboard.

The arena's end zones have also been upgraded with 6mm LED fascia ribbon displays, each measuring 66'5" in length and 2' 5" high, to enhance sponsor visibility and provide game-in-progress messaging. The turnkey system redesign included the installation of a hoist, updated production controls, a new scoring system, and advanced show control software.

Additionally, a new sound system complementing the video upgrades at JCP was designed by AJP and implemented by ITI Systems. The audio system was engineered to provide speech clarity above spectator background noise and deliver full-range audio power to support typical program and hype music used at today’s collegiate athletic events. The system features new Fulcrum Acoustics DX and CS series loudspeakers and subwoofers driven by the new and cutting-edge Powersoft Unica Series amplifiers, a Qsys DSP, and a Yamaha DM Series Digital Console.

The JCP was also updated with new in-bowl sports and entertainment lighting integrated by Musco Sports Lighting. The lighting upgrade includes multicolored and moving head fixtures,  adding dynamic elements that enhance fan experience by adding color-changing capabilities and the ability to go “lights out” for pregame ceremonies or postgame celebrations. 

“This is an amazing project for a facility of this size,” said Michael Rowe, Chief Executive Officer of Anthony James Partners (AJP), which collaborated with USD on the upgrades. “The combination of a clean-looking, modern center-hung scoreboard and new ribbon boards — along with a great sounding audio system — are a great addition to the dynamic atmosphere at Jenny Craig Pavilion. The design really fits the building well, and fans are going to be absolutely blown away.”

Fans will get their first chance to see the upgrades in person when USD volleyball opens its home schedule on Friday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m. against St. John's. Tickets are on sale now.