View source for California Memorial Stadium

{{Short description|Stadium in Berkeley, California, USA}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = California Memorial Stadium
| nickname = California Memorial Stadium<ref name="California Memorial Stadium">{{Cite web|title=FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium|url=https://calbears.com/sports/2020/6/18/california-memorial-stadium.aspx|access-date=2021-10-31|website=University of California Golden Bears Athletics|language=en}}</ref><br>''Strawberry Canyon''
| native_name = 
| native_name_lang = 
| fullname = 
| former names = 
| logo_image = California Memorial Stadium Logo.svg
| logo_size = 150
| image = California Memorial Stadium aerial view.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Aerial view in 2025
| address = 210 Stadium Rim Way
| location = [[University of California, Berkeley|University of California]]<br/>[[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], [[California]], United States 94720<ref>{{cite web|title=California Memorial Stadium|website=www.visitberkeley.com|url=https://www.visitberkeley.com/directory/california-memorial-stadium/|access-date=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| coordinates = {{Coord|37|52|16|N|122|15|3|W|type:landmark|display=it}}
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=240|zoom=15|type=point}}
| pushpin_map = USA#USA California<!-- USA California Oakland -->
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label = Berkeley
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the [[United States]]##Location in [[California]]
| publictransit = {{rint|bus|1}} [[Bear Transit]] from<br/>{{rail-interchange|bart}} [[Downtown Berkeley station|Downtown Berkeley]]: {{rint|bart|orange}} {{rint|bart|red}}<br/>{{rint|bus|1}} [[AC Transit]]:<br/>[[List of AC Transit routes#Transbay service|F]], [[List of AC Transit routes#Local service|36]], [[List of AC Transit routes#Local service|51B]], [[List of AC Transit routes#Local service|52]], [[List of AC Transit routes#Local service|79]]
| broke_ground = December 1922<br>(site clearing)<br>July 1, 1923<ref name="historic report">{{cite web|title=California Memorial Stadium (Berkeley, California) Historic Landscape Report|url=http://www.cp.berkeley.edu/CP/PEP/History/HistoricReports/HLR/HLR_memorial_stadium_FINAL_March2006.pdf|publisher=University of California|date=March 2006|access-date=August 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617010737/http://www.cp.berkeley.edu/CP/PEP/History/HistoricReports/HLR/HLR_memorial_stadium_FINAL_March2006.pdf|archive-date=2010-06-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| opened = {{Start date and age|1923|11|24|br=yes}}<br>{{Start date and age|2012|9|1|br=yes}}<br>(renovation)
| owner = University of California
| operator = University of California
| surface = FieldTurf (2017–present)<ref name="calbears2">{{cite web |title=New Playing Surfaces at Memorial, Haas|date=8 June 2017 |url=http://www.calbears.com/news/2017/6/8/athletics-news-new-playing-surfaces-at-memorial-haas.aspx|publisher=University of California, Berkeley Athletics|access-date=June 8, 2017}}</ref><br>Matrix Turf (2012–2017)<br>Momentum Turf (2003–2010)<br>Grass (1995–2002)<br>[[AstroTurf]] (1981–1994)<br>Grass (1923–1980)
| construction_cost = [[United States dollar|$]]1,437,982 (1923)<br>[[United States dollar|$]]321 million (2011)
| architect = [[John Galen Howard]]<ref name="historic report"/><br>Baker & Carpenter<ref name="historic report"/><br>George E. Cunningham<ref name="historic report"/>
| general_contractor = Clinton Construction Company<ref name="historic report"/>
| tenants = [[California Golden Bears]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]])<br>(1923–present)
| seating_capacity = 52,428 (expandable to 62,467 without tarps) (2024–present)<ref name="calbears1">{{cite web |title=2024 Cal Football Info Guide|url=https://calbears.com/documents/2024/8/28/2024_Cal_Football_Info_Guide.pdf|publisher=University of California, Berkeley Athletics|access-date=October 1, 2024}}</ref>
| embedded = {{Infobox NRHP
  | name = California Memorial Stadium
  | embed = yes
  | nrhp_type = 
  | image = 
  | caption = 
  | location= Bet. Piedmont Ave., Stadium Rim Way, Canyon Rd., Bancroft Way and Prospect St., [[Berkeley, California]]
  | built = 1922
  | architecture = [[Neoclassicism]], [[Modernism]]
  | added = November 27, 2006
 <!--  | area = {{convert|14|acre}}
  | governing_body = State    -->
  | refnum = 06001086<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
  | designated_other1 = Berkeley Landmark
  | designated_other1_number = 287
  | designated_other1_date = June 1, 2006
  }}
| website = {{URL|https://calbears.com/sports/2020/6/18/california-memorial-stadium.aspx|calbears.com/california-memorial-stadium}}
}}
'''California Memorial Stadium''' (also known simply and commonly as '''Memorial Stadium''' or '''CMS''') is an outdoor [[college football]] stadium located on the campus of the [[University of California, Berkeley|University of California]] in [[Berkeley, California]], United States. It&nbsp;is the home field for the [[California Golden Bears football|California Golden Bears]] of the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] (beginning in fall 2024).

Opened in [[1923 California Golden Bears football team|1923]], the venue currently seats around 63,000 for football;<ref name="calbears3">{{cite web|url=http://calbears.cstv.com/trads/cal-m-fb-stad.html|title=Memorial Stadium|publisher=University of California, Berkeley|access-date=March 17, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308215704/http://calbears.cstv.com/trads/cal-m-fb-stad.html|archive-date=March 8, 2007}}</ref> its playing field runs northwest to southeast at an approximate [[elevation]] of {{convert|410|ft|round=5}} above [[sea&nbsp;level]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=11&Z=10&X=1413&Y=10479&W=3&qs=%7cBerkeley%7cCA%7c |title=MSRMaps |publisher=MSRMaps |date=1996-01-07 |access-date=2012-10-03}}</ref> It has been named one of the top college football stadiums by various publications,''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/sports/g22522292/college-football-stadiums-ranked/|title=The Top 25 College Football Stadiums|last=Newcomb|first=Tim|date=2018-07-24|website=Popular Mechanics|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203065057/https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/sports/g22522292/college-football-stadiums-ranked/|archive-date=2018-12-03|access-date=2019-07-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/top-10-college-football-stadiums|title=Top 10 College Football Stadiums|date=2011-08-23|website=NBC Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430042118/https://www.nbcsports.com/top-10-college-football-stadiums|archive-date=2018-04-30|access-date=2019-07-16}}</ref>'' and it was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places|U.S. National Register of Historic Places]] on November 27, 2006.<ref name=nris/><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/11/10_stadium_history.shtml|title=11.10.2005 – History of Memorial Stadium|work=berkeley.edu|access-date=March 5, 2015}}</ref>

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 [[neoclassicism|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 (football)|Big Game]] against [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]], the hill overlooking the eastern side of Memorial Stadium attracts spectators hoping to watch a game for free, earning the nickname "[[Tightwad Hill]]".
{{TOClimit|limit=2}}

==Before Memorial Stadium==

===West Field===
On February 14, 1885, the first football game was played on the University of California campus between the hometown Bears and a football club from San Francisco known as the Merions. The&nbsp;field was located where the [[University of California Museum of Paleontology|Valley Life Sciences Building]] currently stands ({{Coord|37.8712|N|122.262|W}}), and the game drew some 450 spectators. In&nbsp;subsequent years, the field was officially named '''West Field''' and seating capacity was expanded to around 5,000. However, by [[1904 California Golden Bears football team|1904]], California's football team had become so popular that West Field became too small, therefore, the university decided to build a new stadium with an excess of 20,000 seats.<ref name="making">{{cite web|title=The House that Andy Built: The Making of Memorial Stadium|url=http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2010/12/15/1865216/the-house-that-andy-built-the-making-of-memorial-stadium|publisher=California Golden Blogs|date=December 15, 2010|access-date=August 22, 2012}}</ref>

===California Field===
[[California Field]] opened its doors in 1904 to replace the antiquated West Field and the boosted capacity allowed California to host important games for the first time. While playing at West Field, the Bears played important games (namely the [[Big Game (American football)|Big Game]]) at neutral site venues in San Francisco and with a new over 20,000-seat stadium, California was able to host the first Big Game played outside of San Francisco. The new stadium was located much closer to the center of campus (where Hearst Gymnasium now stands) and was able to draw unprecedented crowds for the time. California Field is also notable because it is where many of California's longstanding traditions began to take form. In 1910, the first [[card stunt]] was performed at the Big Game and after victories, the students would "serpentine" around the field—something that is mentioned in the song "[[Big C (fight song)|Big C]]". California Field is also where the Golden Bears gained national prominence under head coach [[Andy Smith (American football)|Andrew Latham Smith]]. Four of the Bears' five consecutive undefeated seasons were played at California Field; the stadium was home to three of California's four straight claimed national championships. Because of this success, it became evident that California needed an even larger venue to host its football team; therefore, the team and its fans began pushing for a new stadium.<ref name="making"/>

===The drive to build Memorial Stadium===
The early 1920s saw four major collegiate venues open in the State of California: [[Stanford Stadium]], the [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]], the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]], and California Memorial Stadium. With the success of the California football program and the openings of the new football venues for Stanford and USC, the campus community was nearly unanimous in its desire to see the Bears get a new stadium of their own. One of the first proposals for a new stadium was on the south-western corner of the campus where [[Edwards Stadium]] and [[Evans Diamond]] currently stand. This proposal was eventually rejected and the regents settled on a site at the mouth of Strawberry Canyon. The location caused considerable controversy, with objections rising from local community arguing that it would "ruin the beauty of the canyon, destroy the canyon as a natural biological laboratory for the University, and create traffic and transportation problems."<ref name="making" /> There were also protests from homeowners whose homes would be demolished, as well as those whose views would be blocked by the building. However, the popularity of [[Andy Smith (American football)|Andy Smith]]'s "Wonder Teams" prevailed and fundraising began in 1922.<ref name=":0" />

The $1 million stadium was funded completely by 10,000 seat subscriptions at $100 per subscription; the fundraising drive through these subscriptions was a complete success, with all subscriptions selling out in less than ten days. With funding secured, the university broke ground in January 1923, hoping to open the new stadium in time for the 1923 Big Game.<ref name="making" />

=== Construction ===
Because the stadium would be directly atop the [[Hayward Fault Zone|Hayward Fault]], it was constructed out of two halves, the eastern side was built into the hills, while the west side contained the main structure built in the [[Neoclassical architecture|neo-classical]] architecture style to resemble the [[Colosseum|Roman Coliseum]]. [[Expansion joint]]s were placed where the two sides connected, allowing them to separately move during an earthquake. During the construction 2,500 pine trees were planted on what became known as the [[Tightwad Hill]].<ref name=":0" />

==Original California Memorial Stadium: 1923–2010==
===History===
California played its first seven games of the 1923 season at old California Field preparing to open the new 75,000-seat stadium at Strawberry Canyon for the final game of the season—the Big Game—against Stanford. Both teams were having a good season in 1923 with California going undefeated up to that point (with a tie to Nevada) and Stanford going into the Big Game with a record of {{nowrap|7–1}}. Leading up to the first game at Memorial Stadium, some in the media suggested to Bears coach Andy Smith that the opening of new stadiums was cursed: Stanford lost the first game played at Stanford Stadium while USC lost the inaugural game of both the Rose Bowl and the Los Angeles Coliseum. Smith simply replied, "Why, of course they did, it was always California they invited to help dedicate their stadiums." The Bears went on to win the inaugural game at California Memorial Stadium by a final score of {{nowrap|9–0}}, beating Stanford for the fifth straight year and securing their fourth straight undefeated season.<ref name="making" />

When California Memorial Stadium opened in 1923, the permanent capacity of the venue was around 75,000 and expandable to around 85,000. For important games, the university would bring out temporary bleachers that would stand around the eastern rim of the stadium. It was during this time, that California set their all-time attendance record in 1947 with an announced crowd of 83,000 for a game against [[Navy Midshipmen football|Navy]].

[[File:Cal, Stanford football game, Memorial Stadium, 1930.jpg|thumb|800px|California-Stanford football game, Memorial Stadium, Nov. 22, 1930|alt=|none]]
As the California football team's fortunes on the field began to fall in the second half of the century and there was a demand for wheelchair seating along the eastern rim, the university did away with the temporary bleachers bringing the stadium's maximum football capacity back down to the permanent capacity of 75,000.

Due to the seismic vulnerability of the old press box, the University of California dismantled the structure and installed a temporary facility that stood until the 2010 season. The installation of the temporary press box brought the stadium's capacity down to 73,347 and then down to 72,516 for the 2004 season. California brought the seating capacity further down to 67,537 with tarps being placed over four sections (one in each corner). The university did remove the tarps, however, for important games allowing a full 72,516 to attend. Because of safety concerns, the university brought the capacity down to 71,799 for the 2008 season.

After the 2010 season, the entire west side of the bowl was demolished and rebuilt. The stands in the original stadium descended right down to the football field, and the view from the lowest midfield seats on the west side could be blocked by the standing visiting team members. To eliminate this problem, the surface of the field was lowered four feet to allow unobstructed seats in the first few rows during the 2010-12 renovation.<ref name="Memorial Stadium">{{cite web|title=Memorial Stadium|url=http://www.calbears.com/facilities/memorial-stadium.html|publisher=University of California|access-date=August 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224154250/http://www.calbears.com/facilities/memorial-stadium.html|archive-date=December 24, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The capacity of the refurbished stadium is now 63,186, and was sold out for the first game of the 2012 season in a 31-24 Cal loss against the University of Nevada Wolf Pack.

===Capacity===
[[File:California Memorial Stadium aerial.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Satellite view, November 2008]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|California Golden Bears|color=white}}"| Years
! scope="row" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|California Golden Bears|color=white}}"| Capacity
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|2024-present
| 52,428 (expandable to 62,467)
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|2022-2023
| 51,892 (expandable to 62,467)
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|2013–2021
| 62,467
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|2012
| 63,186
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|2008–2010 
| 71,799
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|2006–2007 
| 72,516
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|2003–2005 
| 67,537 (expandable to 72,516)
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|2002 
| 73,347
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|1998–2001 
| 75,028
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|1996–1997
| 74,909
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|1982–1995 
| 75,662
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|1961–1981 
| 76,780
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|1951–1960 
| 81,490
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|1949–1950 
| 80,239
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|1938–1948 
| 80,000
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|1937 
| 77,963
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|1927–1936
| 78,461
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|1926 
| 78,671
|-
! scope="row" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|California Golden Bears}}"|1923–1925
| 72,609
|}

===Other major events===
California Memorial Stadium has seen a number of major events throughout the years other than California football. Before 1970, the general commencement exercises of the University of California were regularly held at Memorial Stadium. The large campus-wide commencement, however, was cancelled in 1970 because of the many protests that were taking place at the time—university officials at the time did not see it wise to have such a large gathering annually with the protests going on.<ref>{{cite news|title=Berkeley commencement: It's not a day, it's a season|first=Janet|last=Huseby|url=http://office.chancellor.berkeley.edu/gcr/CalNeighbors/2002Spring/commencement.htm|publisher=Office of the Chancellor at the University of California|date=Spring 2002|access-date=August 22, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121210094233/http://office.chancellor.berkeley.edu/gcr/CalNeighbors/2002Spring/commencement.htm|archive-date=2012-12-10|url-status=dead}}</ref> General Commencements have since returned to the University of California campus, with the exercises being performed at Memorial Stadium, [[Haas Pavilion]], [[Hearst Greek Theatre]], and most recently [[Edwards Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Thousands of Students Set to Graduate at Increasingly Popular Commencement|first=Oksana|last=Yurovsky|url=http://www.dailycal.org/2012/05/10/thousands-of-students-set-to-graduate-at-increasingly-popular-commencement/|newspaper=[[The Daily Californian]]|date=May 10, 2012|access-date=August 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://commencement.berkeley.edu/faq|title=FAQ {{!}} Commencement|website=commencement.berkeley.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-05-14}}</ref> On March 23, 1962, to commemorate Charter Day (the anniversary of the founding of the University of California), President [[John F. Kennedy]] gave a speech at Memorial Stadium in front of an above capacity crowd of 88,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charter Day 1962: JFK on Soviet-American Cooperation, Space Science, State Support for Higher Education|url=http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2012/03/23/jfk-charter-day-1962/|publisher=University of California Public Affairs|date=March 23, 2012|access-date=August 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Address at the University of California at Berkeley, March 23, 1962|url=http://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Ready-Reference/JFK-Speeches/Address-At-The-University-Of-California-At-Berkeley.aspx|publisher=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum|access-date=August 22, 2012|archive-date=June 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605234353/http://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Ready-Reference/JFK-Speeches/Address-At-The-University-Of-California-At-Berkeley.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Soccer====
[[Real Madrid]] and [[Inter Milan]] played at Memorial Stadium on July 26, 2014, one of their matches in the [[2014 International Champions Cup]]. The match, played before a sold-out crowd of 62,583, ended in a 1–1 tie after regulation and Inter Milan won the shootout 3–2.<ref>[http://internationalchampionscup.com/news/?article_id=105 Inter Edges Real Madrid in Penalty Kick Shootout] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728152454/http://internationalchampionscup.com/news/?article_id=105# |date=2014-07-28 }} ICC.com July 26, 2014 Retrieved July 27, 2014</ref> The usual artificial turf was converted and this match was played on natural grass.<ref>{{cite web|title=Real Madrid v Inter Milan – International Champions Cup|url=http://www.blog.sfgate.com/soccer/2014/07/26/2926/|work=SFgate.com|access-date=October 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730050827/http://blog.sfgate.com/soccer/2014/07/26/2926/|archive-date=2014-07-30|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; width:95%;" style="text-align:center"
|-
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|California Golden Bears|color=white}};"|Date
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|California Golden Bears|color=white}};"|Winning Team
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|California Golden Bears|color=white}};"|Result
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|California Golden Bears|color=white}};"|Losing Team
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|California Golden Bears|color=white}};"|Tournament
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|California Golden Bears|color=white}};"|Spectators
|-
| July 26, 2014 || {{flagicon|ITA}} '''[[Inter Milan]]''' || 1–1<br>{{small|3–2 ([[Penalty shootout (association football)|pens.]])}} || {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Real Madrid]] || [[2014 International Champions Cup]] || 62,583
|}

====Oakland Raiders====
The [[National Football League|NFL]]'s [[Oakland Raiders]] played their second game of the [[1973 NFL season|1973]] regular season at Memorial Stadium. The game against the defending [[Super Bowl]] champion [[Miami Dolphins]] was moved from the Raiders' regular home, the [[Oakland Coliseum]], because of a scheduling conflict with the [[Oakland Athletics]], who hosted the [[Minnesota Twins]] at the Coliseum the following night. The Raiders ended the Dolphins' NFL record 18-game winning streak with a 12–7 victory on four field goals by 45-year-old [[George Blanda]] on September 23.<ref>{{cite web|title=1973 Oakland Raiders|first=John|last=Troan|url=http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1973-oak|work=jt-sw.com|access-date=August 22, 2012}}</ref>  Several preseason games were also played at the stadium in the early 1970s.

Ultimately, in response to traffic and parking issues associated with these games (while Cal games drew a large number of students who live on or near campus and walk to the games, Raider games attracted fans from a larger geographic area who were used to tailgating at the Coliseum and were more likely to drive to games), the City of Berkeley passed a Professional Sports Events License Tax in which the city collected 10% of all gate receipts, making the staging of professional games inside the city cost-prohibitive.  The Raiders were granted an injunction from the city collecting the tax, arguing that the tax was a regulatory measure rather than a revenue measure, and was therefore an improper regulation on land held in trust by the Regents of the University of California.  However, the grant of the injunction was reversed by the California Court of Appeals, who found it to be a revenue measure, despite the fact that the city had made the measure immediately effective "due to danger to the public peace, health, and safety of the City of Berkeley as a result of the holding of professional sports events there."<ref>{{cite web|title=Oakland Raiders vs. City of Berkeley, 65 Cal. App. 3d 623|url=http://law.justia.com/cases/california/calapp3d/65/623.html|work=law.justia.com}}</ref>

===Playing surface===
Originally a natural grass field, [[AstroTurf]] was installed in Memorial Stadium in [[1981 California Golden Bears football team|1981]] and remained for fourteen seasons. Natural grass returned in [[1995 California Golden Bears football team|1995]], and varsity football practices were held at Witter Rugby Field, saving the stadium's grass field for game days only. In [[2003 California Golden Bears football team|2003]], Momentum Turf, an infilled [[artificial turf]] similar to [[FieldTurf]], was installed.<ref name="Memorial Stadium"/> This allowed for minimal maintenance and increased utilization of the stadium, for football practices and other sports, on the space-limited campus. The field is also marked for international [[Association football|soccer]], but this wider dimension allows little reserve room beyond the official lines.

==Renovation: 2010–2012==

===Need for renovation===
[[File:Berkeley stadium fault creep P1320489.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Due to creeping of the Hayward fault, the stadium walls were slowly separating]]
The [[Hayward Fault Zone|Hayward Fault]] passes directly under the playing field of Memorial Stadium (nearly from goal post to goal post.),<ref name="The Hayward Fault at UC Berkeley">{{cite web|url=http://seismo.berkeley.edu/seismo/hayward/ucb_campus.html|title=The Hayward Fault at UC Berkeley|publisher=University of California Berkeley Seismological Laboratory|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716064610/http://seismo.berkeley.edu/seismo/hayward/ucb_campus.html|archive-date=July 16, 2011|access-date=August 22, 2012}}</ref> where right-lateral strike-slip motion is shifting the east half of the building to the south at a rate of 1.2&nbsp;mm/yr; during its construction, [[expansion joint]]s had been placed in the walls of the stadium to maintain the integrity of the building.<ref name="making" /> A 1998 seismic safety study on the California campus gave the stadium a "poor" rating (meaning that the building represents an "appreciable life hazard" in an earthquake), and estimated the cost of making the structure safe at $14 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berkeley.edu/news/extras/1997/SAFER/Pages/findings.html#Costs |title=10.24.97 - SAFER Program - Findings and Implications |publisher=Berkeley.edu |date=1998-04-24 |access-date=2012-10-03}}</ref> Because the stadium is on the [[National Register of Historic Places|U.S. National Register of Historic Places]] and because of the nostalgia that surrounds the site, the university decided that a retrofit and renovation (as opposed to building a new stadium elsewhere) would be the best scenario for the California football program. In February 2005, Chancellor [[Robert Birgeneau]] announced plans to renovate Memorial Stadium, improving the existing facilities and creating a safer environment for the fans as well as the people that work at the stadium. HNTB Architecture and STUDIOS Architecture were the architects for the renovation of the stadium and the new Simpson Center for Student-Athlete High Performance.

===Phase I===
Phase I consisted of building the {{convert|142000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Simpson Center for Student-Athlete High Performance next to the west wall of the stadium. The center was built to be the home of football and 12 of California's Olympic sports that were previously housed in Memorial Stadium. The center saw the construction of new locker rooms, offices meeting rooms, training and sports medicine facilities, and an academic center in the SAHPC.<ref name="Student-Athlete High Performance Center Project Description">{{cite web|url=http://stadiumcampaign.berkeley.edu/project-description/|title=Student-Athlete High Performance Center Project Description|publisher=UC Berkeley|access-date=July 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503233139/http://stadiumcampaign.berkeley.edu/project-description/|archive-date=2009-05-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> The roof of the athletic center also acts as a pedestrian plaza. Phase I of the renovations were originally scheduled to begin the spring and summer of 2006 but was delayed by a court injunction due to three lawsuits against the project. [[2006 University of California, Berkeley Oak Grove Protest|A small group of tree-sitters]] occupied the oak grove on the west side of the stadium beginning on the "Big Game" day in December 2006 but in September 2008 the court injunction was lifted, the protesters came down, and construction of the athletic center began. The Simpson Center for Student-Athlete High Performance (originally SAHPC) opened in the Fall of 2011 and became 100% operational in January 2012.

===Phase II===
[[File:California Memorial Stadium (12-10).jpg|thumb|right|Progress of the refurbishing after the final football game in December 2010, from [[Tightwad Hill]]]]
On January 19, 2010, the UC Board of Regents approved the retrofit and renovation of California Memorial Stadium. The $321 million project commenced in June 2010 and was completed in time for the 2012 season. The Bears played at [[AT&T Park]] in [[San Francisco]] for the 2011 season while the renovations were being made.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/051010aae.html |title=Cal Football to Play 2011 Home Season at San Francisco's AT&T Park |publisher=University of California, Berkeley Athletics |date=May 10, 2010 |access-date=January 24, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814154433/http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/051010aae.html |archive-date=August 14, 2011 }}</ref>
The west side of the stadium was demolished and rebuilt except for the outer wall. Club levels, a new press box, bathrooms and concession stands were added. The surface of the field was lowered four feet to improve the view from the lowest midfield seats on the west side, which previously were blocked by standing visiting team members.
A [[surface rupture]] block was placed in each end zone where the fault line passes through the stadium. These blocks can move independently from the rest of the stadium and were built on top of three feet of sand and plastic sheets. Expansion joints were placed between the surface rupture blocks and the rest of the stadium.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/12/st_calstadium/|title=Engineering a $321 Million Quake Retrofit for UC Stadium|publisher=Wired Magazine|date=December 27, 2010|access-date=February 1, 2011}}</ref>

===Phase III===
Phase III of the Memorial Stadium renovation and retrofit is the renovation of the stadium's east side by adding modern amenities to that side of the stadium. Originally, this part of the project was to begin in the Fall of 2009, but because of the delay of phase II, the east side's improvements have been delayed indefinitely. The eventual improvements on the east side of the stadium called for an extension of the concourse to wrap around the stadium, new restrooms, ADA seating, and vendors.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/20/SPFG12MMB1.DTL&ao=all|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|first=Sam|last=Whiting|title=Cal's Crumbling Home / Stadium on the Brink / Eccentricities still there to charm and confound|date=June 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Blue |first=Old |url=http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2010/3/23/1368825/golden-facilities-deep-into-the |title=Golden Facilities: Deep into the Future, East Side Renovations |publisher=California Golden Blogs |date=2010-03-23 |access-date=2012-10-03}}</ref>

==Renovation financing==
[[File:California Memorial Stadium 2 (6-11).jpg|thumb|right|Construction progress in June 2011]]
For the stadium's $321 million renovation and a new $153 million Student-Athlete High Performance Center, the university incurred a controversial $445 million of debt, which it planned to finance with the sale of special stadium seats in the Endowment Seating Program. Before the start of the stadium reconstruction, Professor Brian Barsky showed that the financial plan was unrealistic and calculated that although $215 million had been claimed to have been raised as of January 15, 2010, the true figure was closer to only about $20 million as of December 2010, and that the total financial obligation including interest would exceed a billion dollars.
<ref>{{cite web|last=Barsky|first=Brian|url=http://archive.dailycal.org/article.php?id=111410| title=Financial Plan Is on Shaky Ground|work=Daily Californian |date=2010-12-03
|access-date=2016-10-22|archive-date=2016-10-22|
archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022161114/https://archive.dailycal.org/article.php?id=111410
|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
<ref>{{cite web|last=Barsky|first=Brian|url=http://archive.dailycal.org/article.php?id=111640|
title=UC Berkeley's Endowment Seating Program Doesn't Quite Add Up|work=Daily Californian|date=2011-01-25
|access-date=2016-10-22|archive-date=2021-02-24|
archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224135130/https://archive.dailycal.org/article.php?id=111640|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
His calculations were subsequently corroborated by the Wall Street Journal,<ref>{{cite web|last=Bachman | first=Rachel| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304432704577350214257041598 | title=Cal's Football-Stadium Gamble | work=The Wall Street Journal|date=2012-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418055222/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304432704577350214257041598.html|archive-date=April 18, 2012}}</ref> which reported in April 2012 that only $31 million had been received as of the end of December 2011; this was followed by further reporting of poor seat sales in the Endowment Seating Program.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schwab |first=Frank |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/cal-stadium-renovation-leaves-school-huge-debt-pay-173428997.html |title=Cal's new stadium renovation leaves school with huge debt to pay off &#124; Dr. Saturday |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |date=2013-06-17 |access-date=2013-06-28 |archive-date=2013-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624091459/http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/cal-stadium-renovation-leaves-school-huge-debt-pay-173428997.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Debt">{{cite news|last=Asimov |first=Nanette |url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/collegesports/article/Cal-scrambling-to-cover-stadium-bill-4604221.php?t=7903d5abac47b02379 |title=Cal scrambling to cover stadium bill |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2013-06-17 |access-date=2013-07-20}}</ref>  As of June 30, 2016, the fund balance was $60.98 million, far short of the $215 million that had been claimed five years earlier. The roughly $18 million interest-only annual payments on the debt consumes 20% of Cal's athletics budget and 15% of the campus structural deficit;<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilner |first=Jon |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/09/30/cal-athletics-20-million-question-will-sports-need-to-be-axed/ |title=Cal athletics' $20 million question: Will sports need to be axed? |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News |date=2016-09-30 }}</ref> principal repayment begins in 2032 when the annual debt payment will rise to about $26 million per year, about $28 million in 2033, about $30 million per year for 2034–2038, and about $37 million per year for 2039–2044. The debt payments are scheduled to continue for 100 years from its 2013 inception, concluding in 2113.<ref name="Debt"/> On November 3, 2017, [[Carol T. Christ|Chancellor Carol Christ]] announced that the university would overtake the earthquake retrofitting expenses part of the renovation. This amount is estimated to be approximately 60 percent of the total expenses or $200 million with the remaining expenses still being retained by the athletic department. Exactly where in the budget the funds would be taken was not announced, although the chancellor did state that they would not be taken out of student tuition or tax-payer funds for the university. It was not ruled out that the money could be taken out of funds for academic departments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/UC-Berkeley-to-tap-academic-funds-to-help-bail-12330822.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104032114/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/UC-Berkeley-to-tap-academic-funds-to-help-bail-12330822.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-11-04|title=UC Berkeley to tap academic funds to help bail out Memorial Stadium |work=SFGate|date=2017-11-04|access-date=2017-11-05}}</ref>

==Renovated California Memorial Stadium: 2012–present==

===Opening ceremony===
[[File:CaliforniaMemorialStadium.JPG|thumb|right|The stadium during the 2012 football season]]
The University of California reopened the stadium on September 1, 2012, for a home football game against the [[2012 Nevada Wolf Pack football team|University of Nevada]]. This was the first football game in Berkeley since the end of the 2010 season. The sellout crowd of 63,186 watched the Nevada Wolf Pack spoil the grand re-opening with a 31–24 victory, Cal's first loss to Nevada at home since before the original stadium opened in 1923. There were many noticeable differences between the new, more modern stadium and the old stadium that closed in 2010. Except the historic façade, the entire west side of the stadium was demolished, allowing the university to make the venue seismically safe, and add modern amenities. Most noticeable changes included club seating, along with a new pressbox, atop the western stands. The east side, however, has remained relatively unchanged. The stadium was originally dedicated to the memory of those Californians that were lost in [[World War I]], and on October 6, 2012, the university rededicated California Memorial Stadium in the memory of all Californians who sacrificed their lives in service to the nation.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Special Events Lined Up for Renovated Memorial Stadium|url=http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081712aah.html|publisher=University of California|date=August 17, 2012|access-date=August 22, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818044235/http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081712aah.html|archive-date=August 18, 2012}}</ref>

===Capacity===
Because of the inclusion of seat back and bench back seating in the same footprint as before, the renovation and retrofit reduced the seating capacity by around 10,000 seats. Original estimates stated that the official stadium capacity would be around 63,000–65,000, down from the 71,799 capacity that Memorial Stadium had in 2010. Capacity at the beginning of the 2012 season ended up at 63,186. Since 2022, the four southernmost sections have been tarped off, and a terrace was built in the middle, connected to the concourse.

2012–present: 63,186<ref name="calbears1"/><br>Estimate during construction: 62,717<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.webcor.com/projects/all-projects/government/cal-memorial-stadium/ |title=Cal Memorial Stadium |publisher=Webcor |access-date=2012-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118073014/http://www.webcor.com/projects/all-projects/government/cal-memorial-stadium/ |archive-date=2011-11-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Playing surface===
The playing field was lowered {{convert|4|ft|m}} to improve sight lines,<ref name="calbears1"/> and surfaced with Matrix Turf, an artificial turf with [[crumb rubber]] infill along with a silica pea gravel base to allow improved field drainage.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071112aac.html|title=Renovated Memorial Stadium to Feature Matrix Turf Surface|publisher=University of California|date=July 11, 2012|access-date=October 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902084143/http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071112aac.html|archive-date=2012-09-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2017, the playing surface was changed to [[FieldTurf]] as part of Cal's transition to its new partnership with [[Under Armour]].<ref name="calbears2"/> In 2023, the turf was replaced with sod, and the endzones became gold, likely to Cal's new partnership with Nike.

===Kabam naming rights===
In December 2013, Cal Athletics announced a 15-year $18 million naming rights deal with [[Kabam]],<ref name="Kabam pr">{{cite press release|author=<!--Not stated-->|title = Kabam It Is: Cal sells naming rights to Memorial Stadium football field for $18 million|url=https://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/online/kabam-it-cal-sells-naming-rights-memorial-stadium-football/|publisher=California Alumni Magazine|date=2013-12-15|access-date=2024-05-09}}</ref> at the time the largest naming rights agreement in the history of college athletics.<ref name="Kabam pulls out">{{cite web|author=Hooman Yazdanian|title=It's Memorial again: Kabam pulls name from football field|url=https://www.dailycal.org/archives/its-memorial-again-kabam-pulls-name-from-football-field/article_4cf40ea1-0318-568c-bc35-02cb6763e0e6.html|date=June 9, 2017|access-date=2024-05-09}}</ref> Under the agreement, the field was called '''Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium'''. In July 2017, Kabam pulled out of the deal.<ref name="Kabam pulls out" />

===FTX naming rights===
In August 2021, Cal Athletics announced a 10-year $17.5 million naming rights deal with [[FTX (company)|FTX]].<ref name="FTX pr">{{cite press release|author=<!--Not stated-->|title = Cal Athletics, FTX Unveil 10-Year Landmark Relationship|url=https://calbears.com/news/2021/8/23/cal-athletics-ftx-unveil-10-year-landmark-relationship.aspx|publisher=Cal Athletics|date=2021-08-23|access-date=2022-11-19}}</ref> Under the agreement the field was known officially as '''FTX Field at''' '''California Memorial Stadium'''.<ref name="California Memorial Stadium">{{Cite web|title=FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium|url=https://calbears.com/sports/2020/6/18/california-memorial-stadium.aspx|access-date=2021-10-31|website=University of California Golden Bears Athletics|language=en}}</ref> In November 2022, the deal was suspended and FTX's logo was removed from the field surface amid [[Bankruptcy of FTX|FTX's bankruptcy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.berkeleyside.org/2022/11/18/farewell-ftx-field-uc-berkeley-suspends-naming-rights-deal-crypto-exchange|title=Farewell, FTX Field: Cal suspends naming rights deal with the crypto exchange|last=Kwok|first=Iris|date=2022-11-18|access-date=2022-11-19|website=Berkeleyside|publisher=Cityside|quote=Photos shared on social media this week appeared to show workers scrubbing off an FTX logo from the turf on California Memorial Stadium.}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Calbearzy.jpg|View northwest, with [[Sather Tower]] in the distance
File:California memorial stadium view from the north.jpg|West side of the stadium, view from the north
File:California Memorial Stadium northern gate.jpg|Northern gate
File:Touchdowns from Tightwad - Flickr - Joe Parks.jpg|View from Tightwad Hill
File:Hayward fault separation Memorial Stadium.jpg|Hayward fault wall separation
File:California Memorial Stadium concourse.jpg|Concourse
File:Tightwad Hill.jpg|Tightwad Hill
File:University of California Berkeley aerial view by drone.jpg|Aerial view from southeast
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}}
* [[California Field]]
* [[List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070514225010/http://stadiumcampaign.berkeley.edu/ The Campaign for Student Athletes] - California Memorial Stadium
* [http://berkeleyheritage.com/berkeley_landmarks/stadium2005.html Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA)] - Memorial Stadium information
* [http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/california/berkeley_memorial.shtml World Stadiums.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203235628/http://worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/california/berkeley_memorial.shtml |date=2009-02-03 }} - photos - Memorial Stadium
* [http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=4&S=11&Z=10&X=1413&Y=10479&W=3&qs=%7cBerkeley%7cCA%7c msrmaps.com] - satellite color photo (2004) (& [[USGS]] topo map) - UC-Berkeley campus

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