Merle Norman Stadium

{{Infobox stadium

| stadium_name = Merle Norman Stadium

| location = 3501 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles

| broke_ground = 2012

| image = USCTrojansMerleNormanStadium.jpg

| caption =

| opened = 2013

| closed =

| demolished =

| coordinates = {{coord|34.020195|N|118.281459|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| owner = University of Southern California

| operator = University of Southern California

| construction_cost =

| architect =

| seating_capacity =

| tenants = USC Trojans (NCAA)
(2013–present)

}}

Merle Norman Stadium is a beach volleyball facility located in Los Angeles, California, United States.{{cite web|title=Merle Norman Stadium|publisher=usctrojans.com|url=https://usctrojans.com/facilities/?id=8|accessdate=2018-10-17}} The on-campus USC facility, built in 2013, serves as the home of the USC Trojans women's beach volleyball. The facility has three sand courts where USC plays its home matches and holds practices.{{cite web|title=USC Unveils Merle Norman Sand Volleyball Stadium, Season Opens Sunday|publisher=reignoftroy.com|url=https://reignoftroy.com/2013/03/08/usc-unveils-merle-norman-sand-volleyball-stadium-season-opens-sunday/|accessdate=2018-10-17}}{{cite web|title=USC's Women of Troy take the sand|publisher=ncaa.com|url=https://www.ncaa.com/video/beach-volleyball/2016-04-29/beach-volleyball-usc-women-troy-practice-anna-collier|accessdate=2018-10-17}}

History

Ground was broken to construct the venue in July 2012 from donations of several USC alumni, including Jack Nethercutt II.{{Cite web|last=Kragen|first=Aubrey|title=USC Alum's Company Changes Course During Crisis|url=https://usctrojans.com/news/2020/4/6/trojan-athletic-fund-merle-norman-changes-course-during-crisis.aspx|access-date=2020-09-02|website=USC Athletics|language=en}} The stadium opened on March 7, 2013, and was named after Nethercutt's aunt, Merle Norman.

The Trojans went undefeated at the stadium in 2014, 2015, and 2017.{{Cite web|title=2017 Women's Beach Volleyball Schedule|url=https://usctrojans.com/sports/womens-beach-volleyball/schedule/2017|access-date=2020-08-04|website=USC Athletics|language=en}} As of July 2020, the Trojans are 34–4 at the stadium. As of 2023, the Trojans have won 5 NCAA Beach Volleyball National Championships since the NCAA program's foundation in 2016.

Events

The women's beach volleyball team played their first dual match in the stadium on March 10, 2013, versus Loyola Marymount.{{cite web|title=Sand Volleyball Splits Opening Matches|publisher=conquestchronicles.com|url=https://www.conquestchronicles.com/2013/3/11/4091362/sand-volleyball-splits-opening-matches|accessdate=2018-10-17}}

The 2016 Pac-12 Conference beach volleyball championships were held at the stadium, which the USC Trojans won.{{Cite web|title=Recap: USC captures first ever Pac-12 Beach Volleyball title|url=https://pac-12.com/videos/recap-usc-captures-first-ever-pac-12-beach-volleyball-title|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503204011/http://pac-12.com/videos/recap-usc-captures-first-ever-pac-12-beach-volleyball-title|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 3, 2016|access-date=2020-08-01|website=pac-12.com|language=en}}