Photos by Andy Mantsch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Eddy D. Field Stadium
24255 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90263
Year Opened: 1973
Capacity: 1,800
A View of Malibu
It doesn’t always take a new and beautiful stadium to make baseball experiences good. Sometimes all it takes is a hot dog, a game, and a view. And at Eddy D. Field Stadium, oh! what a view it is. Situated in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean, sometimes it’s hard to focus on the game in such a calming setting. The stadium itself doesn’t hold much in terms of glitz and glamour, but when you’re based in Malibu, who cares?
The stadium was built in 1973 and renovated in 1980 and again in 1999. The 1,800-seat stadium is named after longtime university benefactor Eddy Field. And with a plethora of stadiums in the LA area, this one is worth the drive up the Pacific Coast Highway.
Food & Beverage 2
Well, the good news is the food is dirt cheap. Almost everything on the menu is under $4.25, which makes for a very affordable experience. If you’re looking for a variety of local food options to chow down on though, you’ll have to go somewhere else. Fortunately, all that a good baseball experience requires is a couple of $3 hot dogs and a $2.25 soda with the ocean in the background.
There’s only one small concession stand behind the first baseline here. The menu is short and includes hot dogs, peanuts ($2.50), frozen lemonade ($3.50), an STG sandwich ($4.25), PB&J ($2), and a few other miscellaneous items. Drinks include coffee ($2), Dasani bottled water ($2.25), and soda. Again, the selection is sparse but mildly sufficient.
Atmosphere 4
The crowds aren’t raging, the stadium isn’t shiny and the park isn’t top of the line. But, there’s no disputing the setting. There are plenty of parks around the country that bring a lot more in terms of passionate sports atmospheres and state-of-the-art facilities, but Eddy Field Stadium is the anti-atmosphere in those regards.
The facility itself is nice enough for a college stadium. The outfield wall runs evenly around the park with a pretty basic scoreboard in right. The left-center field is part of the field that could be classified as “intimidating.”
Despite only two College World Series appearances, Pepperdine’s wall proudly displays that they were 1992 National Champions. The stadium bleachers are all seat backs in 11 sections from first base around to third base. The crowd is generally sparse (Pepperdine is much more of a basketball school) and very laid back.
The real showstopper here is the view. Palm trees line the outside of the outfield fence, hills rolling up to the Santa Monica Mountains draw your eyes to the right, and a campus full of what looks like luxury condos is all around you. The Pacific Ocean in the distance over left field will steal your eye line for all nine innings if you’re not careful. Everything about this park is relaxing and well worth the trip.
Neighborhood 5
Pepperdine’s campus overlooks Malibu and the Pacific Coast Highway from the hills below the Santa Monica Mountains. Is there a better neighborhood than Malibu and a better drive than the Pacific Coast Highway? Sure, there’s not a bar and restaurant scene in the area, but who needs that when you have a beach, mountains, and mansions? The area is absolutely beautiful and will expand your relaxing experience well beyond the nine innings of the game.
There are several beachside restaurants in Malibu worth checking out. My first recommendation would be Duke’s Malibu for some seafood and beautiful ocean views. Paradise Cove Beach Cafe and The Sunset are also beach side options.
Hotels in the immediate Malibu area aren’t particularly cheap, but they are plentiful. If you’re looking for less expensive options, you can head 20-30 minutes down the road toward LA and have easy access to both Malibu and the Hollywood area for considerably cheaper rates. And of course, the drive can be right down the 101 along the ocean. There’s no reason to complain about that.
Fans 2
There are a mighty few Waves faithful in attendance at the game, but in general, attendance will be pretty sparse. At a basketball-first school in a city full of money, there’s just not much support for the baseball team. It’s a shame because it is a great place to view a game. Although as peaceful as it is, it might lose some of its relaxing lusters with truly large crowds.
Access 4
The Los Angeles area isn’t particularly known for its ease of access, but when you’re driving along the ocean it’s easy to not mind. Pepperdine is about a 45-minute drive along the coast from LAX on an easy day, with a good portion of that drive following the PCH west along the ocean. If you’re coming from that direction, leave a bit early because LA traffic is unpredictable, to say the least.
Once at Pepperdine, you’ll check in at the campus checkpoint and they’ll direct you up the road to the stadium. There is a parking lot behind the center field wall and street parking in the immediate area. Because of the sparse attendance, traffic will generally be light and parking is easy. Entry into the stadium can come from just about any direction via stairways among the hills, but to avoid stairs there’s a road that comes down the first baseline hill.
You’ll pay your $8 almost on the honor system at a table set up behind the first base dugout stands and have free roam of the area. The game is visible from all areas of the concourse with seating below, so walking it is easy.
Return on Investment 4
Everything here is inexpensive. From the $8 ticket to the $3 hot dog, this is an excellent value. Take into account the beautiful view and the above-average baseball, and it’s quite a deal. Short of an elite baseball atmosphere, you can’t beat putting your feet up on the seat in front of you and catching a game with the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.
Extras 3
The first obvious unique factor of Eddy Field Stadium is the view. This has to count as an extra when it’s something that very few stadiums can match. Add into it the equally beautiful Pepperdine campus, and you’re surrounded by a slice of heaven. But be sure to look down just long enough to notice the unexpected “National Champions” scrolling across the outfield wall, and you’ll realize this is more than just pretty scenery.
Final Thoughts
You’ve heard about the great parks of college baseball in the southeast or nearby Los Angeles. But don’t overlook the hidden masterpiece of serenity that is Eddy D. Field Stadium. If baseball was life and you had to take a vacation, this would be your vacation spot.