California Memorial Stadium

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California Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium

Location	210 Memorial Stadium Berkeley, California 94720
Broke ground	1923
Opened	1923
Owner	University of California, Berkeley
Operator	University of California, Berkeley
Surface	Momentum Turf
Construction cost	$1.4 million USD
Architect	John Galen Howard
Tenants
California Golden Bears (NCAA) (1923-Present)
Capacity
75,662

California Memorial Stadium, commonly known as Memorial Stadium, is the current home venue for California Golden Bears football. It was opened in 1923. Currently it seats 75,662^[1] spectators and was designed to support American Gridiron Football.

The stadium was built with money raised from public contributions, as a memorial to Californians who lost their lives in World War I. 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, Memorial 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 Wildcat Canyon. This has earned it a reputation as one of the most scenic venues in college football.

The stadium has no track, so the stands come right up to the football field. (The lowest central seating views on the West side can be blocked by the standing visiting team reserve members.) Currently the stadium sports a Momentum Turf surface, but has previously sported both AstroTurf and natural grass. The Momentum Turf surface allows football practices and less popular sports to be held on the field year-round. Previously, football practices would be held at Witter Rugby Field. The surface is also marked for international soccer, but this allows little reserve room beyond the official lines.

Memorial Stadium supporting columns diverging due to fault creep

The Hayward Fault passes under Memorial Stadium, where right-lateral strike-slip motion is shifting the northeast half of the building to the southwest at a rate of 1 cm/yr. Expansion joints have been placed in the walls of the stadium to maintain the integrity of the building. A 1998 seismic safety study at the Berkeley 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 in an earthquake at $14 million. In February 2005, Chancellor Robert Birgeneau announced plans to renovate Memorial Stadium, improving the existing facilities while providing new ones for various university departments and programs. The first phase of those renovations took place during the spring and summer of 2006. Extensive seismic modifications will be required if life safety is to be addressed (see Hayward Fault Zone for possible solutions).

Traditionally, during most football games and especially during the Big Game against Stanford University, the hill overlooking the eastern side of the Stadium attracts spectators hoping to watch a game for free. The hill has become known as "Tightwad Hill" as a result.

The Oakland Raiders moved a 1973 home game against the defending Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins from their regular home stadium, the Oakland Coliseum, to Memorial Stadium to draw a larger crowd (the Oakland Coliseum seated just over 50,000 fans at the time). The Raiders ended the Dolphins' 18-game winning streak with a 12-7 victory on four field goals by George Blanda.

[edit] References

^ Memorial Stadium. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved on March 17, 2007.

The Dolphin's game was not moved to allow a larger crowd. The game was moved due to a conflict with the Oakland A's who were playing a game on the same day at the normal Raider's home field.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 37°52′15.6″N, 122°15′02.7″W

University of California, Berkeley
Athletics & traditions	Golden Bears • Big Game • California Memorial Stadium • Haas Pavilion • Oski • Stanford Axe • The Play

Football Stadiums of the Pacific Ten Conference
Arizona Stadium (Arizona) • Autzen Stadium (Oregon) • Husky Stadium (Washington) • Martin Stadium (Washington State) • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Southern California) • California Memorial Stadium (California) • Reser Stadium (Oregon State) • Rose Bowl (UCLA) • Stanford Stadium (Stanford) • Sun Devil Stadium (Arizona State)