Harder Stadium

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Harder Stadium at night looking northwest towards the Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara, California

Harder Stadium is the on-campus soccer, rugby, and lacrosse stadium of the University of California, Santa Barbara. It is located in Santa Barbara, California. It was built in 1966, and it is named after Theodore "Spud" Harder, a former coach of the Gauchos' football team. The team played their home games at Harder Stadium until football was cut in 1992 due to budget cuts. The stadium has a capacity of 17,000 people, and it is the largest stadium on California's Central Coast, larger than that of Mustang Stadium, which is currently used by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Every year, the school's Associated Students Program Board has thrown a free day-long party, known as EXTRAVAGANZA, at Harder Stadium. Bands like Sublime, No Doubt, The Roots, MXPX, Zebrahead, Save Ferris, Black Eyed Peas, Pepper, and E-40 have played at this festival. The school's graduation ceremonies have also recently been held at Harder Stadium.

Harder Stadium sees most of its present-day use as a soccer stadium to the UCSB soccer team. The stadium has hosted numeorous NCAA soccer playoff games. In 2004, nearly 13,000 fans saw UCSB defeat Virginia Commonwealth, 4-1, to get to the College Cup (NCAA Soccer's "final four"). After the game, a group of students celebrated by carrying one of the soccer goals out of the stadium. They had planned to throw it into the Pacific Ocean (about 1/3 mile away), but were stopped by law enforcement down the block. In 2006, when the Men's Soccer club won the national championship a group of roudy, drunk students marched down to the stadium from their homes and attempted the same feat. This time, the group succeeded in their quest, throwing the soccer goal off of a cliff from the 6600 block of Del Playa. Along with the UCSB Events Center, it is one of the more well-attended athletic venues in the Central Coast.

Harder Stadium houses 18 art studios primarily for use by graduate students and faculty.

The stadium is located on the campus of UCSB, along with all of UCSB's other athletic facilities. The Santa Ynez Mountains can be seen to the north of the stadium, and southerly ocean breezes from the Pacific Ocean can be felt.