California Memorial Stadium is located within the oldest part of the urban East Bay near Strawberry Canyon, Piedmont Avenue, the Greek Theatre, Panoramic Hill, the central campus and the densely developed Southside neighborhood.

The stadium, which straddles the active Hayward Fault, was built on what has been called the world's most difficult stadium site.

California Memorial Stadium is in an unusually spectacular setting surrounded by open space which complements the horizontally massive structure and mediates between it and the sensitive surroundings.

The site includes a wooded slope, with rock walls, radiating paths, and a generally rustic character; a portion, near Memorial Arch, that has a large, steep, and densely wooded embankment; a portion, between the stadium's south end and historic Canyon Road, that has a smaller densely wooded embankment as well as other planting; and a promenade segment that runs behind the stadium's east and northeast seating.

California Memorial Stadium is the largest and most controversial project of master architect John Galen Howard. His Classical Revival design, which deftly combines the earthen-bowl and coliseum types of construction, was built on what has been called the world's most difficult stadium site.

Adapted from the NRHP nomination.