Spaulding Field

Spaulding Field. This premier outdoor practice facility is an integral part of the athletic complex at the University of California, Los Angeles. Primarily serving the UCLA Bruins football program, the field is named in honor of alumnus and donor William G. Spaulding, a former head football coach. Located adjacent to historic Pauley Pavilion and the Wasserman Football Center, it is a central hub for daily training and preparation.

History

The field's origins are tied to the growth of UCLA's Westwood campus and its athletic ambitions. It was formally dedicated in the name of William G. Spaulding, who coached the Bruins from 1925 to 1938 and later served as the university's Athletic director. For decades, it was a natural grass surface used by multiple sports teams. A significant modernization occurred in the 2010s as part of a broader athletic facilities campaign under UCLA Athletics and then-athletic director Dan Guerrero, which included the construction of the adjacent Wasserman Football Center. The field was converted to a state-of-the-art Artificial turf system to accommodate year-round use and align with the training infrastructure of elite Football Bowl Subdivision programs.

Facilities and features

The facility features a full-length, regulation American football field marked with UCLA Bruins logos and lined for daily practice activities. The synthetic playing surface is designed for durability and player safety. A permanent scoreboard and professional-grade lighting systems allow for evening practices. The field is directly connected to the Wasserman Football Center, which houses locker rooms, meeting spaces, and the Jim Mora Field Terrace. It sits within the UCLA Athletic Field, a precinct that also includes Drake Stadium, the Los Angeles Tennis Center, and the practice grounds for the UCLA Bruins softball team.

Usage and events

Spaulding Field is the primary practice venue for the UCLA Bruins football team throughout its spring and fall camps, as well as during the regular season. It is a key recruiting tool, frequently showcased to prospective student-athletes during visits. The UCLA Bruins men's soccer and UCLA Bruins women's soccer teams have also utilized the field for training. While closed to the public during official team activities, it has been a site for special events like the UCLA Spring Showcase and media days covered by outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and Fox Sports. The facility's visibility increased during the tenure of coaches like Rick Neuheisel, Jim Mora, and Chip Kelly.

In popular culture

The iconic backdrop of the UCLA campus and its athletic facilities has led to Spaulding Field appearing in several film and television productions. It has been featured as a generic college sports setting in various projects shot in Los Angeles. The field and the surrounding UCLA Athletic Field are occasionally visible in broadcast footage during network television coverage of UCLA Bruins sports on ESPN or the Pac-12 Network. Its proximity to Pauley Pavilion also places it within the cultural landscape associated with famed UCLA Bruins men's basketball coaches like John Wooden and Ben Howland.

See also

* Rose Bowl (stadium) * Pauley Pavilion * Wasserman Football Center * UCLA Athletic Field * Drake Stadium (UCLA)

Category:American football venues in Los Angeles Category:University of California, Los Angeles Category:Sports venues completed in the 20th century