Jackie Robinson Stadium

Jackie Robinson Stadium is a college baseball stadium in Los Angeles, California, U.S., the home field of the UCLA Bruins of the Pac-12 Conference. Opened in 1981, it is the smallest stadium in the conference, with a seating capacity of 1,820.[1] It is named after former Bruin baseball player Jackie Robinson, the first African-American Major League Baseball player of the modern era.

For the stadium in Daytona Beach, see Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Jackie Robinson Stadium
Jackie Robinson Stadium with the old scoreboard
LocationLos Angeles, California
 United States
Coordinates34°3′33.1″N 118°27′33.5″W
Capacity1,820
Field sizeLeft Field – 330 ft (101 m)
Left-Center – 365 ft (111 m)
Center Field – 390 ft (119 m)
Right-Center – 365 ft (111 m)
Right Field – 330 ft (101 m)
SurfaceNatural grass
Opened2021
Tenants
UCLA Bruins baseball - (NCAA)
1981 – present

Robinson attended UCLA from 1939–41, after graduating from Pasadena Junior College. He was the first UCLA athlete to earn varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football, and track. He played in the major leagues for ten seasons (1947–56), all with the Brooklyn Dodgers. A statue and a mural of Robinson can be found at the entrance concourse of the stadium.

Jackie Robinson Stadium is located off-campus, on the west side of the Interstate 405 (San Diego) freeway, on the grounds of the Los Angeles Veterans Health Administration. Robinson's classmate, Hoyt Pardee (UCLA '41), gave a gift to help with the construction of the stadium. The stadium's "Steele Field" was dedicated in honor of the Steele Foundation on May 3, 2008, prior to a game against Arizona State, for its support of the stadium. The hitting facility at the stadium is named Jack and Rhodine Gifford Hitting Facility.[2] Gifford played baseball at UCLA and graduated from the Engineering School with a BSEE degree. He was a founder of Advanced Micro Devices and Maxim Integrated Products.

A capacity crowd of 2,613 saw the Bruins defeating the defending National Champions LSU Tigers 6–3 at the Los Angeles Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament on June 5, 2010. The record of 2,914 fans was set on March 23, 1997 in a game against USC.[3] In 2010, the Bruins ranked 48th among Division I baseball programs in attendance, averaging 1,178 per home game.[4]

The stadium is not to be confused with the Jackie Robinson Memorial Field (dedicated on January 30, 1988) at Brookside Park, next to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, where UCLA plays its home football games.[5]

Court case

On August 30, 2013, a federal judge ruled that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs misused the West Los Angeles campus where the stadium is located for a variety of uses, including the stadium, but stopped short of ordering the tenants off the property.[6] However, the judge's ruling left open the possibility that, if not modified or reversed, UCLA could lose the right to use the stadium.

Notable events
UCLA Bruins playing at the L.A. Regional on June 1, 2013 with the installation of the new video board (16'6" x 49'0")

Motion picture set

Jackie Robinson Stadium was the location used[9][10][11] for the climatic scene in the 1999 film Never Been Kissed[12][13] in which Josie Geller (Drew Barrymore) waits for her first real kiss from Sam Coulson (Michael Vartan).

Notes
  • August 29, 2013 – U.S. District Judge S. James Otero ruled that the West Los Angeles Veterans' Administration land leased for a baseball stadium, film studio storage lot and other businesses is illegal.[14]
  • October 21, 2013 – UCLA was given permission to appeal the court decision on the use of the stadium[15]

See also

References
  1. "UCLA Baseball to Install Additional Seats at Jackie Robinson Stadium". UCLA Bruins. UCLA Athletic Department. October 18, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-12-25. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  2. Former UCLA Baseball Player Jack Gifford Passes Away Archived April 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, UCLABruins.com, January 16, 2009
  3. Bauer Pitches No. 1-Seed UCLA Past No. 2-Seed LSU, 6-3, in NCAA Regionals Archived 2012-04-05 at the Wayback Machine, UCLABruins.com, June 5, 2010
  4. Brian Foley (January 6, 2011). "2010 NCAA Baseball Attendance Leaders". Archived from the original on 2011-02-05. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  5. Rose Bowl Stadium Overview Map Archived 2009-12-29 at the Wayback Machine, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association
  6. Federal judge rules VA misused its sprawling West L.A. campus, Los Angeles Times, August 30, 2013
  7. ‘Violation of our values,’ UCLA chancellor says of LAPD’s use of Jackie Robinson Stadium, Los Angeles Times, June 4, 2020
  8. Statement on LAPD using Jackie Robinson Stadium, UCLA Newsroom, June 4, 2020
  9. Demster, Chas. "Filming Locations of Chicago and Los Angeles". It Was Filmed There.
  10. "Never Been Kissed - Filming Locations". Filmedthere.com.
  11. "Los Angeles Sports Venues Starring in Movies & TV Shows". Discover Los Angeles. Mar 13, 2019.
  12. "Secrets of Never Been Kissed". E! Online. October 12, 2020.
  13. "Jackie Robinson Stadium from "Never Been Kissed"". IAMNOTASTALKER. April 20, 2011.
  14. Judge says LA land meant for veteran use, The Modesto Bee, August 29, 2013
  15. Update on Jackie Robinson Stadium from Dan Guerrero , UCLABruins.com, October 27, 2013
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