QUICK FACTS
Official Name: Ted & Rand Schaal Aquatics Center
Date Opened: January 2004
Seating Capacity: Approx. 500
Center Named For: Former Aggie swimmer Rand Schaal and his father Ted
First Competition: Swim & Dive: 1/10/2004, Aggie Invitational. Women's Water Polo: 1/31/2004, vs. Sonoma State. Men's Water Polo: 9/12/2004, vs. UC Berkeley
Address: 426 Health Sciences Drive, Davis, Calif. 95616
ABOUT SCHAAL AQUATICS CENTER
On April 21, 1998, former Aggie swimmer Rand Schaal and his father Ted provided a $1.4 million gift to the university, $1 million of which was earmarked toward the construction of a new aquatics facility.
That contribution, the largest in the history of the intercollegiate athletics department, helped spur the 1999 Facilities And Campus Enhancement (F.A.C.E.) Initiative, which funded the remainder of the aquatics center as well as other campus venues.
The complex features an all-deep 65-meter by 25-yard pool with a depth ranging from seven feet to 14 feet (for diving purposes), men’s and women’s locker rooms, four team rooms, training facilities, office space and a fixed-seating capacity for approximately 500 spectators.
The Schaal Aquatics Center opened its doors during the 2003-04 season, serving UC Davis swimming and diving, and the Aggie men’s and women’s water polo programs. In its short lifetime, it has already hosted several championship events, including both the men’s and women’s Western Water Polo Association Championships in 2004-05 and the 2005 United States Water Polo Men’s National Championships. The facility also serves as a home course for local club aquatics programs.
In May of 2006, Schaal Aquatics Center served as the host for the eight-team National Collegiate Women’s Water Polo Championship The event marked the first time an NCAA final was held on the UC Davis campus since the Division II men’s gymnastics championships took place at Recreation Hall.
With men's and women's water polo moving to the Big West ahead of their 2023 seasons, the men's water polo team was given the opportunity to play host to a conference tournament for the first time ever for the 2024 Big West Tournament. The facility was also selected to be the host for the 2027 Men's Water Polo National Championships that same year.
In addition, the space is also used for both practice and competition for local UC Davis club teams.
In the spring of 2018, construction began on a new team center to replace what had been a grass berm on the north end of the facility. This structure opened in February 2019. Naming opportunities are still available for several of the spaces within the center.
Parking & Directions
From the Bay Area
• Travel east on Interstate 80 until reaching turnoff near UC Davis campus for Highway 113 (toward Woodland).
• Exit Hutchison Blvd. and stay right.
• Turn right at Health Sciences Drive. Proceed straight to Lot 56.
From Sacramento
• Travel west on Interstate 80 until reaching turnoff near UC Davis campus for Highway 113 (toward Woodland).
• Exit Hutchison Blvd. and stay right.
• Turn right at Health Sciences Drive. Proceed straight to Lot 56.
Additional nearby parking is available in Lot 53, the University Credit Union Center Parking Structure.
NOTE: Schaal Aquatics Center is also accessible from downtown Davis by traveling west on Fifth Street. That road turns into Russell Blvd. Turn left at La Rue Road, proceed south to Hutchison Blvd. Turn right at Hutchison, then left onto Health Sciences Drive toward Lot 56.
