California Memorial Stadium
California Memorial Stadium also known simply and commonly as Memorial Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium on the west coast of the United States, located on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley, California. It is the home field for the California Golden Bears of the Atlantic Coast Conference (beginning in the fall of 2024).
California Memorial Stadium Strawberry Canyon | |
View northwest, with Sather Tower in the distance | |
Berkeley Location in the United States Berkeley Location in California | |
| Address | 210 Stadium Rim Way |
|---|---|
| Location | University of California Berkeley, CA 94720 |
| Coordinates | 37°52′16″N 122°15′3″W |
| Public transit | Bear Transit from Downtown Berkeley AC Transit: F, 36, 51B, 52, 79 |
| Owner | University of California |
| Operator | University of California |
| Capacity | 63,000 (2013–present) |
| Surface | FieldTurf (2017–present) Matrix Turf (2012–2017) Momentum Turf (2003–2010) Grass (1995–2002) AstroTurf (1981–1994) Grass (1923–1980) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 1922 (site clearing) July 1, 1923 |
| Opened | November 24, 1923 September 1, 2012 (renovation) |
| Construction cost | $1,437,982 (1923) $321 million (2011) |
| Architect | John Galen Howard Baker & Carpenter George E. Cunningham |
| General contractor | Clinton Construction Company |
| Tenants | |
| California Golden Bears (NCAA) (1923–present) | |
| Website | |
| calbears.com/california-memorial-stadium | |
California Memorial Stadium | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
Berkeley Landmark No. 287 | |
| Location | Bet. Piedmont Ave., Stadium Rim Way, Canyon Rd., Bancroft Way and Prospect St., Berkeley, California |
| Built | 1922 |
| Architectural style | Neoclassicism, Modernism |
| NRHP reference No. | 06001086 |
| BERKL No. | 287 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 27, 2006 |
| Designated BERKL | June 1, 2006 |
Opened in 1923, the venue currently seats around 63,000 for football; its playing field runs northwest to southeast at an approximate elevation of 410 feet (125 m) above sea level. It has been named one of the top college football stadiums by various publications, and it was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on November 27, 2006.
Memorial Stadium was funded from public contributions, as a memorial to Californians who lost their lives in World War I (1917–18). The chair of the architectural committee was John Galen Howard, the university's chief architect, and his influence is evident in the stadium's neoclassical motif. In addition to its unique architecture, the stadium's position at the foot of the Berkeley Hills provides top row spectators with panoramic views of San Francisco Bay and west side viewers with views of the Berkeley Hills and Strawberry Canyon. This has earned it a reputation as one of the most scenic venues in college football.
Traditionally, during all football games and especially during the Big Game against Stanford, the hill overlooking the eastern side of Memorial Stadium attracts spectators hoping to watch a game for free, earning the nickname "Tightwad Hill".