UCLA Baseball Team Faces Lockout from Home Field Due to Lease Dispute with Military Veteran-Owned Land

A federal judge has issued an order to lock out the baseball program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) from its home stadium on veterans’ land near the campus. The ruling, delivered by Judge David O. Carter, stipulates that UCLA cannot access Jackie Robinson Stadium and an adjacent practice field until it devises a plan that prioritizes service to veterans at the 10-acre facility leased from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
UCLA Chancellor Darnell Hunt made an appearance at a hearing where the school’s attorney, Ray Cardozo, presented a proposal aimed at enhancing services for veterans. Cardozo emphasized that the arrangement should be seen as more than just a lease but as a partnership offering a beneficial trade-off from their perspective.
However, Judge Carter deemed the proposal insufficient and instructed the VA to restrict access to the stadium and practice field until further instructions from the court. This directive follows a four-week trial that concluded recently, leading Judge Carter to rule the UCLA lease as illegal due to its lack of emphasis on veteran services.
In addition to the UCLA situation, Judge Carter also invalidated leases to neighboring entities like the Brentwood School, an oil drilling operation, and two parking lots for similar reasons. The lawsuit, filed as a class-action, alleged that the VA had not provided adequate housing for veterans and that leases across its 388-acre campus in West LA breached an 1888 deed to the U.S. government for the perpetual maintenance of a residence for disabled soldiers.
Prior to these developments, Judge Carter had mandated the VA to develop 750 units of temporary housing and 1,800 units of permanent housing on the campus. This is in addition to the 1,200 to 1,600 units planned as part of a previous lawsuit settlement.