There was a proposal in 1965 to build a 44,000 seat "Multi-Purpose Stadium" on campus, for UCLA Bruins track meets and varsity football games, rather than the Bruins using the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for home field. In both spring and fall 1965, UCLA students "voted by a two-to-one majority against the proposal to use fee funds to build a football stadium."[1] Additionally, the proposal was opposed by influential area residents and politicians.[2][3] By February 1966 UCLA had scaled back the project to the Drake Stadium configuration. Although the football stadium never became a reality, there have been UCLA Bruins football scrimmage games played in the stadium.
Drake Stadium has hosted the Pacific-10 (now Pac-12) Track and Field Championships, the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 1976-77-78, the Pacific-8 Championships in 1970 and 1977 and the CIF California State Meet for high schools in 1969-71-77. The facility hosted the first-ever California-Nevada Championships on April 30-May 1, 1994. It also has hosted other student events such as concerts and graduation ceremonies.
The track at Drake Stadium is named for gold medalist Rafer Johnson and his wife Betty.[4] The field is named for UCLA alumnus Frank Marshall, a film producer.
On May 20, 1990, Randy Barnes set the world record of 23.12 m (75 ft 10 in) in the Shot Put in Drake Stadium. The record lasted over 31 years until it was beaten by Ryan CrouserinEugene, Oregon. On May 27, 2023, Crouser improved upon his world record with a 23.56 m (77 ft3+1⁄2in) at the Los Angeles Grand Prix, returning the record to Drake Stadium.
^Reich, Ken - Stadium for UCLA Given Support - Architect's Study Cites Project as 'Desirable' STADIUM SUPPORT. Los Angeles Times, November 18, 1965. UCLA officials--still reportedly trying to decide whether to recommend the building of a 44,000-seat football stadium on campus--have released details of an architectural feasibility study.
