UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium was officially locked down at noon on Thursday under a federal judge’s order, who ruled that the land must be utilized to support homeless and low-income veterans. The decision came as part of a lawsuit concerning the use of the land, which is owned by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).
The ruling was issued by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, a Marine veteran who served during the Vietnam War. Carter ordered the closure of the stadium and its adjacent practice field, both located on the VA’s 388-acre West Los Angeles campus. The 22-acre stadium, which has been home to the UCLA Bruins baseball team since its dedication in 1981, was formerly known as Sawtelle Field, and UCLA has leased the land from the VA since 1963.
According to the ruling, the use of the 1,838-seat stadium is incompatible with the VA’s primary mission of serving veterans.
Following the decision, the VA took swift action on Wednesday evening, securing the stadium by placing locks on all entrances and gates. “No Trespassing” signs were also installed around the area. This move is part of a broader lawsuit filed by a group of disabled, unhoused veterans who are challenging the VA’s lease agreements on its West Los Angeles campus.
Judge Orders Veterans’ Interests to Be Prioritized
In his ruling, Judge Carter stated that UCLA will not be allowed access to the stadium until it presents a plan that dedicates 10 acres of the property for the benefit of veterans. The plan, he emphasized, must prioritize veterans’ needs, such as housing or services for those facing homelessness or low income.
The Daily Bruin, UCLA’s student newspaper, reported that the university is now required to propose a detailed strategy to repurpose the land in a way that directly supports the veteran community.
UCLA Responds to Court Order
In a joint statement released on Thursday, UCLA and its athletics department expressed disappointment with the court’s decision but confirmed their commitment to complying with the judge’s order. The university stated it hoped for a “swift legal resolution” that would allow its baseball players to return to Jackie Robinson Stadium. UCLA also reiterated its unwavering support for veterans.
Veterans’ Lawsuit Against VA Over Land Use
Judge Carter’s decision followed a daylong hearing on Wednesday as part of the ongoing non-jury trial of Jeffrey Powers et al. vs. Secretary of Veteran Affairs Denis Richard McDonough et al. In this case, a group of unhoused veterans with disabilities sued the VA over its lease agreements with private entities, including UCLA, at the West Los Angeles campus.
According to the Los Angeles Times, UCLA Interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt appeared in court at 7 p.m. Wednesday to request that Judge Carter reverse the order, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
Veteran advocate Rob Reynolds, an Iraq War veteran, spoke to the media outside the stadium following the decision, stating that he supported the repurposing of the land for housing veterans. “If it means veterans aren’t sleeping and dying on the streets, then I’m fine with using this land,” Reynolds told reporters.
Some veterans told ABC7 Los Angeles that they would prefer to see the stadium demolished and replaced with much-needed housing.
Judge’s Previous Rulings: Focus on Veteran Housing
The decision to lock down the stadium is in line with a previous ruling by Judge Carter on September 6, in which he condemned the VA for neglecting veterans. He accused the department of allowing private interests to dominate the West Los Angeles campus, while sidelining the voices of veterans regarding the use of their land.
In his 125-page ruling, Carter claimed that the West Los Angeles VA had been “infected by bribery, corruption, and the influence of the powerful,” further alleging that major institutions, including UCLA, had contributed to this by excluding veterans from decision-making processes.
As part of that ruling, Carter ordered the VA to build 1,800 permanent housing units for disabled veterans and 750 temporary supportive housing units on the West Los Angeles campus. The temporary housing must be completed within 12 months, while the permanent units are required to be finished within six years.
Robins Kaplan, one of the law firms representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, confirmed that the VA had initially planned to build 1,200 housing units on the campus by 2030, but the judge’s ruling accelerated those plans.
UCLA’s Future at Jackie Robinson Stadium Uncertain
For now, UCLA’s baseball team remains locked out of their home stadium, with their return hinging on the university’s ability to meet the court’s demands for a veteran-focused redevelopment plan. As the legal battle continues, the future of Jackie Robinson Stadium—and the land it sits on—remains uncertain, as veterans and advocates push for its transformation into a space that prioritizes their housing and support needs.
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