Struggling to Attract Fans Start Jordan Chiles Breaks Silence on UCLA Making History Worth $450,000 After Record Attendance

It wasn’t long ago that Jordan Chiles called on UCLA fans to show up for the team. To bring the energy, to give women’s gymnastics the love it deserves. At the start of the season, that support was shaky. But on March 9th? Oh, it finally happened. Pauley Pavilion wasn’t just full. It was electric. A record-breaking 12,918 fans packed the arena, shattering previous attendance numbers and generating a whopping figure of $452,130. They were in for one of the greatest nights ever!

No. 3 UCLA battled past No. 12 Stanford with a 197.675-197.100 victory, securing their ninth straight meet above 197. But this was bigger than just another win. This was proof. Prove that UCLA Gymnastics belongs in the same conversation as the LSUs, OUs, and Florida of the sport. And for Jordan Chiles, who dominated with a 39.750 all-around performance, this night wasn’t just about the scores. It was about finally gaining recognition, as Jordan Chiles made amply clear.

Fresh off UCLA’s record-breaking night, she joined SportsCenter on ESPN to talk about what this surge in attendance meant to her. After months of asking fans to show up, after watching empty seats overshadow the team’s talent early in the season, Chiles finally saw Pauley Pavilion packed to the rafters. And it was personal. “I think, you know, it’s like with any women’s sport that’s out there, whether it’s gymnastics, whether it’s golf, tennis, or the WNBA. It’s something that, you know, I always say, if a man can do it, a woman can do it too.”

This wasn’t just about UCLA. This was about a much bigger fight. For women’s sports to get the respect they deserve. Gymnastics has long been one of the most-watched Olympic sports, yet in college, programs like UCLA’s still struggle to get the same recognition as powerhouses in football or men’s basketball. Chiles made it clear: that needs to change. “I think putting gymnastics on that board in college is definitely a huge thing, and you know, a lot of people don’t see us as like an LSU or an OU or Florida.” But why not? UCLA has the talent, the history, and now, the fans to prove they belong in that top-tier conversation.

And for Chiles, this is just the beginning. This moment isn’t just about one record-breaking night. It’s about shifting the culture for years to come. “I just want to be able to show them we are like them. We are a tremendous team. We are that championship team, and I want to be able to continue to show that throughout the years that I’m there.” But this escalation in the crowd didn’t happen overnight.

From empty seats to a packed house

Jordan Chiles made an outstanding gymnastic display that would have captured the attention of fans in a fully packed arena. UCLA started its Maryland match by achieving a perfect 10 on the uneven bars that became the beginning of the Bruins’ successful championship victory. Chiles successfully obtained her first all-around title during this event with a score of 39.500. An Olympic gold medalist appeared before the crowd but did not attract sufficient numbers of spectators. 7,287 enthusiastic fans achieved the XFINITY Center’s highest program attendance during the meet. More than triple the previous high. The stadium’s capacity of 18,000 remained empty as spectators chose to stay away from this event despite its presence.

Chiles knew UCLA deserved more. Gymnastics deserved more. With the Bruins gearing up for their home opener, she took matters into her own hands. Turning to Instagram, she shared a clip of her signature floor routine and made a direct plea. “This is a PSA—please come and attend our home meet this Saturday… we want to give you guys an amazing show!! So come!!!” This served as a mobilizing call which demanded gymnastics fans to support the UCLA team with the same enthusiasm that athletes from other sports receive. The total seating at Pauley Pavilion reaches 13,800 seats, thus filling the entire capacity creates a clear statement.

And now? The message has been received. Loud and clear! UCLA Gymnastics hosted two events that demonstrate significant divergence with each other regarding attendance numbers at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA’s home meet attendance reached unprecedented levels by selling out their matches with 12,918 fans, while earlier they barely managed to attract the crowd even during a historic event. How do you feel after both UCLA Gymnastics and its supporters displayed increased dedication to their shared success? What’s next for UCLA Gymnastics?