Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium - UCLA Athletics - UCLA Official Athletic Site

Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium



Directions to the Stadium

Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium opened its 28th season as UCLA's home baseball field this spring after having undergone significant renovations the past two years. Thanks to a major lead gift from the Steele Foundation in the summer of 2007, the baseball program was able to install a state-of-the-art, major-league playing surface in January 2008. UCLA dedicated the field at Jackie Robinson Stadium in honor of the Steele Foundation on May 3, 2008, prior to a game against Arizona State.

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In addition to a renovated field surface, UCLA improved its field lighting in May 2008, allowing the facility to maintain standards needed to host an NCAA Super Regional. Jackie Robinson Stadium's renovated field surface and brighter lights will allow the facility to field one of the cleanest and best surfaces in college baseball.

Prior to the 2007 season, UCLA installed a major-league quality net behind home plate, improving sightlines for fans and television crews. Other major improvements have included the addition of over 1,000 chairback seats with cupholders in February 2006. The stadium welcomed a new hitter's eye, draped above the center field wall, and the Bruins' scoreboard received a well-deserved face lift.

Located on the site of old Sawtelle Field, Jackie Robinson Stadium provides one of the most comfortable college baseball settings in the West. The stadium was made possible by a private gift from Hoyt Pardee (UCLA '41), a classmate of Jackie Robinson. Without Hoyt, the stadium would not be a reality.

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Twenty years prior, at the end of the 1984 season, the second major phase of the stadium's original construction was completed. A new clubhouse, press box, snack bar, and restrooms were added. The clubhouse is located among the trees behind the third base dugout (pictured above). The clubhouse also contains training and equipment rooms, a meeting room, and offices. The UCLA Baseball Hall of Fame includes plaques of all members. The trophy case houses photos of UCLA alums currently in the pros as well as the 1969, 1976, 1979, 1986 and 2000 Pac-10 championship trophies.

The main press box, located behind home plate, is flanked by two radio/television booths and provides space for media covering the Bruins. Excellent camera positions for television coverage are located atop both dugouts and on the concourse level. Controls for the professional public address system, electronic scoreboard and lighting systems are located in the main press box. The snack stand is located above the first base stands along with public restrooms.

Jackie Robinson Stadium - UCLA baseball's sixth home field - can be accessed via the San Diego Freeway (405) and Wilshire Blvd. The stadium is located on Constitution Avenue (west off Sepulveda Blvd.) and is just minutes away from the UCLA campus.

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The stadium was dedicated on Feb. 7, 1981 with an exhibition game between the Bruins and the Los Angeles Dodgers that drew 2,500 fans. The facility also hosted the 1986 West Coast Conference playoff game between Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount (attendance of 1,800). One week later, the stadium hosted the 1986 NCAA West Regional Tournament. Loyola Marymount, UC Santa Barbara, Hawaii, and UCLA participated in the tournament, won by Loyola Marymount. It marked the first time an NCAA Regional had been hosted in Los Angeles since USC's Dedeaux Field hosted the 1978 District 8 Playoffs. The 1986 title game between Loyola Marymount and Hawaii drew a crowd of 1,815.

Jackie Robinson, for whom the stadium is named, was the first African-American baseball player to compete in the major leagues when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. As a student-athlete at UCLA, Robinson became the Bruins' first four-sport letterman, playing football, basketball, track, and baseball. A bronze statue of Robinson is located near the concession stand on the concourse level. The statue was dedicated on April 27, 1985, before the UCLA-Arizona State game.

Directions to Jackie Robinson Stadium

From the 405 North
Exit Wilshire Blvd. (West)
After exit, make an immediate right onto Sepulveda Blvd.
Drive straight on Sepulveda approximately one-quarter mile.
Turn left onto Constitution Ave.
Stadium is on right-hand side, about 500 feet down the road.

From the 405 South
Exit Sunset Blvd.
Turn right onto Church St. (first light off freeway)
Turn right onto Sepulveda Blvd.
Drive straight on Sepulveda approximately one mile.
Turn right onto Constitution Ave.
Stadium is on right-hand side, about 500 feet down the road.

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