UCLA’s 10-acre lease with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which includes Jackie Robinson Stadium, was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit on Tuesday.

“Because we are reversing judgment on Plaintiffs’ charitable trust claim, we dismiss UCLA’s consolidated appeals as moot and vacate any injunctive relief with respect to UCLA’s lease and services,” said Judge Ana de Alba in the court’s opinion. 

[Related: Federal court ruled UCLA’s lease of baseball stadium on VA property illegal]

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, a Vietnam war-era veteran and UCLA alumnus, barred UCLA baseball from its home ballpark of 44 seasons in September 2024 after deeming the university’s lease illegal for not primarily serving veterans in a class-action lawsuit – forcing the team to move practices off site, either using other facilities on campus or traveling to nearby high school and junior college fields.

The lawsuit was filed by veterans advocates, who claimed that the lease was mismanagement on the part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The dispute centered on whether the land – or rents earned from it – was sufficiently benefiting veterans, a legal requirement.

The suit also followed concerns around veteran homelessness in Los Angeles.

[Related: Veterans criticize UCLA’s continued use of VA property for athletics]

Carter allowed the program to return to Jackie Robinson Stadium in October 2024 after UCLA agreed to increase its rent to $600,000 – about double its previous figure – and surrender two acres of land for modular housing.

While Carter’s October ruling allowed UCLA to use the venue through July 4 – the entirety of the team’s 2025 campaign – the Bruins continued to use Jackie Robinson Stadium well after. Recently, UCLA played nine-inning and five-inning exhibition games against UC Irvine at the ballpark on Nov. 1. 

[Related: Judge rules UCLA baseball can return to Jackie Robinson Stadium]

“UCLA is pleased with the Court of Appeals’ ruling that upholds our lease with the VA,” said Mary Osako, UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications, in a written statement Tuesday. “We look forward to continuing the longstanding UCLA-VA partnership that keeps Jackie Robinson Stadium the home field for Bruins baseball and provides critical services and benefits to our Veterans in the Los Angeles region.”

The Bruins have called Jackie Robinson Stadium – located about two miles off campus – home since the 1981 season, but previously used Sawtelle Field, which occupied the same area, from 1964 to 1979. 

Previously, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a suit on the legality of UCLA’s lease in 2011. However, UCLA didn’t have any of its seasons affected and then-athletic director Dan Guerrero signed a new lease with the VA in 2016. 

In July’s Big Ten Football Media Days, athletic director Martin Jarmond said he was confident UCLA would be able to play its 2026 season at Jackie Robinson Stadium, according to the Los Angeles Times.

After a 19-33 campaign in 2024 that caused the Bruins to miss both the Pac-12 Tournament and NCAA tournament, players and coaches – including projected 2026 MLB Draft No. 1 overall pick junior shortstop Roch Cholowsky – credited the team’s brief loss of a home ballpark for improving the program’s chemistry and attitude.

Ultimately, that resiliency coincided with wins in the NCAA Regional and NCAA Super Regional – with UCLA hosting both series at Jackie Robinson Stadium – and a 2025 Men’s College World Series appearance, the program’s first since 2013.

UCLA baseball is scheduled to open the 2026 season Feb. 13 against UC San Diego at Jackie Robinson Stadium – the first of 32 regular season home games.