Located near the Berkeley Hills and San Francisco Bay, Memorial Stadium is considered one of the most beautiful stadiums in college football. Discussion about building a new stadium for the University of California Golden Bears began as early as 1920. Designed by John G. Howard, the stadium was constructed in 1923 at a cost of $1.43 million. It was named in honor of the men who served in World War I. Known as the “Big Game,” the first game at Memorial Stadium was played on November 24, 1923, when the Golden Bears battled Stanford. The stadium had a capacity of just over 72,000 when it opened and increased to more than 75,000 by the 1980s. Astroturf was installed prior to the 1981 season but was removed before the 1995 season when natural grass was installed. In 2003, the grass field was replaced with Momentum Turf, a synthetic surface similar to FieldTurf.
In January 2010, the university approved a $321 million retrofit and renovation project to address existing seismic safety issues while adding new amenities to the stadium. Construction began immediately after the 2010 season, forcing the Golden Bears to play their 2011 home games at AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants (MLB). A new chapter in the history of the Golden Bears began in 2012 when Memorial Stadium reopened. The west side of the stadium was demolished, except for the historic façade, and rebuilt to include club seats, a new press box and other amenities. The renovation reduced the seating capacity to just under 63,000. New video scoreboards were also installed as part of the project.
In addition to watching the game, fans at Memorial Stadium can enjoy scenic views of San Francisco Bay and the Berkeley Hills. For those looking for a unique perspective, a hike up Charter Hill, also known as Tightwad Hill, offers an excellent view of the action. Located approximately 100 feet above the eastern portion of the stadium, Tightwad Hill provides fans with one of the most unique places to watch the Golden Bears in action.
