In 1979 a new basketball facility was completed on the UC Santa Barbara campus.

In its early days the building was known simply as The Campus Events Center. Eventually that was shortened to “The ECen.”

With the arrival of Jerry Pimm as head coach in 1983, things began to change for Gaucho Basketball. The level of success began to rise. The crowds began to grow. By 1986 the program and its facility had earned a new identity. The team was now known as a winner. The Events Center had become “The Thunderdome.”

UCSB’s Thunderdome has quickly become one of the wildest and noisiest basketball palaces in the country. The 6,000 seat arena is now considered one of the most effective homecourt advantages in college basketball.