Historic Edwards Stadium/Goldman Field, which opened in 1932, is home to the California track & field and soccer teams.
Long considered one of the finest track & field facilities in the world, Edwards Stadium has a legacy unmatched in collegiate track & field. Not only has the facility been host to some of the best individual performances in the sport's history, but Edwards Stadium also stands in one of the most beautiful settings in the nation - with panoramic views of the Berkeley Hills and Strawberry Canyon to the east, and San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline to the west.
Over the years, Edwards Stadium has witnessed 12 world records, 26 American records and 24 collegiate records. The first world record set in the stadium was also history's first 15-foot pole vault, by Cornelius "Dutch" Warmerdam in 1940. The last world mark to fall in Berkeley was in 1978, as Washington State's Henry Rono clocked 13:06.4 in the 5,000-meter run. On a cinder surface in 1966 - before a Tartan all-weather surface was added in 1977 - a University of Kansas freshman by the name of Jim Ryun clocked a remarkable 3:51.3 mile.
Named after Col. George C. Edwards, the facility opened in 1932 as the only stadium in the world built for track & field use only. Since that time, Edwards Stadium has hosted eight NCAA and Pac-12 championship meets, a National AAU championship, the All-American Invitational in 1966, and 1971 and '78 USA vs. USSR dual-meets. With a seating capacity of 22,000, Edwards Stadium for years had the distinction of being the largest exclusive track & field facility in the United States.
In 1967, the oval itself was dedicated in the name of Walter Christie, Cal's first track & field coach (1900-32), and in the early 1960's, the "Friends of California Track" raised funds to build the Walter Christie Bench, which stands just outside the running track on the west side of the field.
Beginning with the 1999-20000 school year, the Cal men's and women's soccer teams adopted Edwards Stadium's infield - Goldman Field - as their home venue. The complex opened for soccer prior to the 1999 season, after being converted to a regulation 70-by-115-yards natural grass soccer field.
The improvements for Edwards Stadium were spearheaded by a lead gift of $1.5 million from alumni Richard and Rhoda Goldman. In recognition of their tremendous contribution, the field at the stadium was renamed Goldman Field in honor of Richard's father, Richard Samuel Goldman. In addition, former track athlete David Epstein ('61) made a $250,000 challenge match for other Cal track alumni and friends. Other alumni who have stepped forward with significant support include William Monheit ('33), Frederick Binkley ('43) and Thomas Floers ('48). Below are a list of improvements which have been made.
Following the completion of the renovation project, Edwards Stadium was honored with the 1999-2000 Outstanding Facility Design and Construction award by the U.S. Tennis Court and Track & Field Construction Association.
Most recently, the track received a new all-weather surface prior to the 2013 season.
