The centerpiece of the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex, Hornet Stadium was built in 1969 and renovated by Fred Anderson in 1992. In 2010, the playing surface was replaced with state-of-the-art FieldTurf. The venue has hosted World League football, the Canadian Football League, the United Football League, the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in 2000 and 2004, and the NCAA Div. I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. The track was replaced with an eight-lane 400-meter Mondo surface in 1999 prior to the 2000 Olympic Trials.
Serving as the home to volleyball, gymnastics, and men's and women's basketball, The Nest was built in 1955 as a multi-use venue for physical education classes and Sacramento State athletics. Located on campus in Yosemite Hall, The Nest's playing floor was recently named Colberg Court in honor of former volleyball coach Debby Colberg. The gym features both chairback and bleacher seating and additional bleacher seating can be added behind the baskets. The Nest was recently renovated with new paint, banners and lights.
Hornet Soccer Field became a permanent stadium in 2002. It is currently home to both men’s and women’s soccer. Located just west of Yosemite Hall, Hornet Soccer Field boasts an international size playing surface that has also hosted the Women’s Professional Soccer League’s Sacramento Storm and has been the training site for Mexican professional teams.
In 2010, the men's soccer team hosted the first ever NCAA Tournament match at Hornet Soccer Field, when Sacamento State defeated Santa Clara, 2-1, in the first round. The Hornets also swept through the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament that season, which was held at Hornet Soccer Field.
In 2009 and 2010, the men's soccer team did not lose a single match held at Hornet Soccer Field - riding a 21-match unbeaten streak (16-0-5) dating back to the end of the 2008 season.
JOHN SMITH FIELD
Capacity: 1,200 Surface: Rye-Fescue mix grass (OF), Tifway Bermuda grass (INF)
Sacramento State’s John Smith Field opened in 1953, was completely renovated in 2002 and renamed in honor of former skipper John Smith, who coached the program for 32 seasons, prior to the 2011 season. Over that span of 50+ years, home plate has never moved. The renovation in 2002 included permanent stadium seating with 150 VIP chairbacks and 1,050 general admission seats, sunken dugouts and a new Barco scoreboard.
John Smith Field was the site of the NCAA Division II West Regionals in 1986 and 1988. The Hornet clubhouse was redesigned in 2007 and includes a player lounge, locker room and coaches offices. The infield apron was rebuilt in 2007 and a rubberized surface was added around home plate.
Shea Stadium was built in the Fall of 1986 by the hard work of Irene Shea, who had just agreed to take over the program as head coach, and assistant coaches Jim Beitia and Alan Segal. The new field included a concrete backstop, a permanent outfield fence, new concrete dugouts and a re-done playing surface. It was the site of the 1987 NCAA Division II West Regionals where over 1,000 fans attended the two-day event. In 2002, Shea Stadium was renovated to include permanent stadium seating with 106 VIP chairbacks and 800 general admission seats. The project also included new sunken dugouts and an enclosed, lighted, two-lane batting cage.
The home of Sacramento State men's and women's tennis is located just off campus on Scripps Drive. The facility features 24 tennis courts (19 lighted). The Hornets also have the ability to train and compete at the Sparetime Indoor Tennis Center in Gold River, Calif., and also used the Gold River Racquet Club to host the Big Sky Conference Championships in 2007 and 2008.
The site of six NCAA National Championships (1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010) Lake Natoma has been one of, if not the, premier rowing venue in the nation. The Sacramento State women’s rowing team has full access to the water, pontoon boats, boathouse, locker room, weight room and an erg loft thanks in part to the Aquatic Center and the University’s Associated Students Inc. (ASI).
Lake Natoma is the holding basin between Folsom Dam and Nimbus Dam which leads to the start of the lower American River. The Sacramento State Aquatic Center has also hosted the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships, Pac-10 Conference Championships and the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.
The newest facility on the Sacramento State campus, the Broad Fieldhouse was completed in the spring of 2008. The facility features locker rooms and coaches offices for the Hornet football and track & field programs as well as a new 6,000 square-foot weight room, equipment room and training room. The facility, located on the south end of Hornet Stadium, also provides large meeting rooms that can be divided for small groups.
