National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA News Archive - 2010

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Jan 25, 2010 9:12:03 AM

California recently announced plans to retrofit California Memorial Stadium, a $321 million project that will address existing seismic safety issues, modernize game-day facilities and services, and upgrade access for the disabled.

Construction will begin in June 2010, with completion expected by fall 2012. The project will be financially supported by the Endowment Seating Program and will not use public funds.

The endowment program provides long-term rights to about 3,000 seats in the stadium (less than 5 percent of capacity). Donors to the program have access to enhanced game-day amenities. Donors and their future designees will receive seat benefits to California football for up to 50 years.

"I want to congratulate the department of intercollegiate athletics and our capital projects team for the excellent work that will allow the university to address significant life-safety issues in a financially responsible manner," said Chancellor Robert Birgeneau. "I am pleased that we are finally moving forward with a project that responds to the needs and interests of our student-athletes, staff and fans, as well as the residents of our surrounding communities."

The project will reduce the capacity of the historic building from 71,799 to 62,717. Upgrades include three club levels, a new press box, wider concourses, and more restrooms and concession stands. Major construction will begin at the end of the 2010 football season, with the intention of completing the project in time for the 2012 season. The Golden Bears will play elsewhere in 2011, though no venue has been determined.

Members of the Golden Bears Olympic sports teams currently based in the facility will relocate to temporary facilities.

The renovation and retrofit of California Memorial Stadium – part of the SAFER program, an ongoing, campus-wide seismic improvement plan – is necessary due to seismic deficiencies in the stadium. According to David Friedman, a senior principal at San Francisco-based Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc., and the lead engineer for the project, these deficiencies require a full seismic upgrade of the western half of the stadium bowl.

The additional engineering challenge in strengthening Memorial Stadium is created by the fact that it is situated directly over the active northern segment of the Hayward Fault. As the fault has the potential for rupturing and displacing during an earthquake, portions of Memorial Stadium that are directly over the fault require a unique retrofit to address possible surface rupture and displacement, in addition to that which is necessary for strong earthquake ground shaking.