University Partnership with
The Home Depot Center
The Home Depot Center is situated on 125 acres of the CSU Dominguez Hills campus and features state-of-the art stadiums and facilities for soccer, tennis, track & field, cycling, lacrosse, rugby, volleyball, baseball, softball, basketball and other sports. Designated as an "Official U.S. Olympic Training Site," The Home Depot Center is the nation's most complete training facility for Olympic, amateur and professional athletes.
The complex includes a 27,000-seat soccer stadium, 8,000-seat tennis stadium, 10,000-seat track & field facility and a 2,450-seat indoor velodrome. The Home Depot Center is home to Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA. In addition, the site is the U.S. Soccer Federation's (USSF) national team training headquarters and the location of the United States Tennis Association's (USTA) USA High Performance National Training Center. The development is also designated as an official training site for USA Cycling and USA Track & Field.
Since its opening in 2003, The Home Depot Center has been a part of the California State University, Dominguez Hills campus, bringing an energy to the university that only a world-class sports venue can, providing not only financial returns, but educational and career opportunities for current students and alumni. Having The Home Depot Center on campus offers many benefits to the students and campus community:
Benefits for Students
Student Internships
Educational opportunities include student internships at The Home Depot Center. As part of a marketing internship through the College of Business Administration and Public Policy, students were able to create marketing campaigns that highlighted the partnership between Dominguez Hills and The Home Depot Center. Current student interns are gaining valuable experience producing a soccer event.
Use of Facilities
Student-athletes at CSU Dominguez Hills have the use of some of the outstanding facilities provided by The Home Depot Center, including tennis courts, soccer training fields and a three-mile jogging trail with twelve fitness stations.
Industry Experts
Katie Druetzler-Pandolfo, General Manager of The Home Depot Center, serves on the advisory board for the university’s College of Business Administration and Public Policy and other professionals serve as adjunct faculty on campus -- the university is fortunate to have these professionals contribute to academic programs and activities.
Career Opportunities
A number of CSUDH alumni have landed key positions at The Home Depot Center or its partners. Zeke Chaidez (Class of ’93, B.A., communications, public relations) was hired as the vice president of business for Chivas USA and Joe Herrera (Class of ’99, B.A., Labor Studies) is Director of Human Resources at STAPLES Center, NOKIA Theatre and L.A. LIVE Entertainment District.
Scholarship Support
The Home Depot Center is a sponsor for our annual President’s Scholarship Reception that raises funds for the Presidential Scholarship. This scholarship is a full-tuition fee award to graduating high school students and community college transfer students, which can be renewed each of their undergraduate years.
Benefits for Campus Community
Raises Public Profile of Campus
Tens of thousands of spectators attend events at The Home Depot Center and are exposed to the university as a result.
Venue for Commencement Ceremonies
The Home Depot Center is a beautiful venue where the university’s commencement ceremonies are held each year. Four college-based commencement ceremonies take place in the 8,000-seat tennis stadium at the end of the Spring semester in May.
Revenue
The university receives revenue from The Home Depot Center each year. See the university budget documents for more information.
Event Discounts
Discount tickets to sporting events at The Home Depot Center are often offered to students and members of the campus community. Sports events include world-class soccer, tennis, track and field, lacrosse, and cycling.
President's Suite
The university president has a luxury suite at The Home Depot Center and often hosts friends of the university, donors and other guests at games and other events held at the stadium.
Articles
Please see Dateline Dominguez stories that feature the university's partnership with The Home Depot Center:
- Annual CBAPP Awards Luncheon Celebrates Scholarships, Community Partners
- Home Depot Center and CSU Dominguez Hills Partner to Bring Music and Entertainment Symposium to Youth
- The Home Depot Center: Dynamic Partnership With CSU Dominguez Hills Brings Learning and Career Opportunities to Campus
If you have any questions about university partners, please contact the Office of Development at (310) 243-2182.