California Memorial Stadium was constructed in 1923 by architect John Galen Howard. The stadium, which currently seats about 63,000 fans, sits at the opening of Strawberry Canyon amidst the Berkeley Hills. It serves as the home of Cal Football and Cal Lacrosse, but the venue has been used for so many other events throughout the years. Some of these include campus-wide commencement ceremonies, professional sporting events, and presidential speeches. Its neoclassical style and access to panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay mark California Memorial Stadium as one of UC Berkeley's most significant campus landmarks.

Originally, California Memorial Stadium's eastern side was built into the Berkeley Hills, with its west side being reinforced by concrete. While this decision allows for visitors to participate in Berkeley's natural beauty, it has meant that the stadium is not the most structurally sound building. The stadium was built directly atop the Hayward Fault – although there have not been any major seismic disasters since Memorial Stadium's construction, renovations were needed in the early 2010's to protect against potential future incidents. The Cal football team pays homage to this fact with the Hayward Fault Lines being etched into the endzone paint as well as into the threads of the team's jerseys.