UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium can remain on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ West Los Angeles campus but three other institutions must go, the VA announced Monday.
UCLA’s baseball team plays home games at Jackie Robinson Stadium, located just west of the I-405 on VA land.
A federal judge ruled in 2024 that UCLA could not use the land, temporarily forcing the team out of the stadium. The judge ruled that the land – or the rents collected from them – did not sufficiently benefit veterans.
[Related: Federal court ruled UCLA’s lease of baseball stadium on VA property illegal]
The same judge, however, allowed UCLA to return to Jackie Robinson Stadium until the end of the 2025 season, given that it paid two times its regular rent, according to the Los Angeles Times. The United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit then upheld UCLA’s lease with the VA in December.
[Related: Judge rules UCLA baseball can return to Jackie Robinson Stadium]
The VA announced that it dissolved leases with Brentwood School and a company that ran a parking lot on the property, as well as a revocable license with an energy company on the VA’s campus.
The VA said in the termination announcement that it had been underpaid by more than $40 million per year based on the fair market value of the properties.
The VA and UCLA Media Relations did not respond in time for a request to comment on the lease agreement.
The VA added in the announcement that the land will be used to implement President Donald Trump’s May executive order to create a National Center for Warrior Independence for homeless veterans. It is meant to provide support for 6,000 unhoused veterans by 2028, according to a fact sheet about the order from the White House.
Trump’s order to establish NCWI received criticism for its lack of concrete plans to fund and implement the project, especially on the scale required by the order, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The VA is currently reviewing construction and design options for NCWI, it added in the statement.
“VA is taking decisive action to ensure the West LA VAMC campus is used only as intended: to benefit Veterans,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in the announcement.
