Venue Information

Offering all the information and resources about the Commencement venue so you can make the most of this special day.

CSUMB Students joining arms at the commencement ceremony

Commencement for Cal State Monterey Bay will be held

Saturday, May 16, 2026 at
10 a.m.


Salinas Sports Complex 1034 N. Main Street Salinas, California

The Salinas Sports Complex is bordered by North Main Street to the west, East Laurel Drive to the north, Maryal Drive to the east and East Bernal Drive to the south.

We look forward to celebrating our graduates and welcoming family and friends to this important milestone.

Venue Overview

Commencement takes place outdoors in an open-air arena. The ceremony will proceed rain or shine.

There is no shade at the venue. Guests should plan accordingly by wearing comfortable shoes, dressing in layers and bringing sun protection such as hats or non-aerosol sunscreen.

Seating in the grandstands is general admission and available on a first come, first served basis. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to allow time for parking, walking to the venue and security screening.

Arena floor seating is reserved for guests with appropriate tickets or accessibility accommodations.

Accessibility and Accommodations

Cal State Monterey Bay is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive Commencement experience.

ADA parking is available with a valid DMV-issued placard or license plate. Accessible seating is available in both the grandstands and designated floor sections.

Accessible routes connect parking areas, entrances and seating locations. Guests who require specific accommodations are encouraged to review detailed accessibility information in advance and plan additional arrival time as needed.

Service animals are permitted in accordance with applicable law.

Entry and Security Procedures

All attendees are required to pass through security screening prior to entering the venue.

A clear bag policy is in effect. Bags are subject to inspection, and certain items are not permitted inside the venue. Guests are encouraged to review bag requirements and the list of prohibited items before arriving.

Outside food and beverages are not permitted.

To help ensure a smooth entry process, please allow extra time when planning your arrival.

Parking and Transportation

Parking is available both on-site and at designated off-site locations. Unless otherwise noted on posted signage or maps, no permits are required.

Because Commencement is a large regional event, guests should anticipate increased traffic near the Salinas Sports Complex and plan travel time accordingly.

Free Shuttle Service

A complimentary park-and-ride shuttle service is available for graduates, guests, faculty and staff. The shuttle provides a convenient option for reducing traffic congestion and easing arrival.

Shuttle pick-up locations and schedules are available below.

Plan ahead for a smooth experience

To make the most of this special day:

  • Review parking and shuttle options in advance

  • Plan for outdoor weather conditions

  • Arrive early for security screening

  • Review bag requirements before leaving home

  • Coordinate seating plans with your party

We look forward to celebrating this achievement with you.

Venue Policies

  • General Seating – Seating is first come, first served.
  • Saving Seats – Saving seats is discouraged and all saved seats not occupied by 10 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony will need to be released.
  • Grandstand Access – General Admission seating is available in the West, North and South Grandstands.
  • Arena floor Access – Admission to the Main Arena Floor requires a Distinguished Guest ticket or an ADA ticket. All guests admitted to the Main Arena Floor must be wristbanded. No re-admittance is permitted without a wristband.

ADA parking

ADA parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis adjacent to Rodeo Arena in the Sherwoood Hall Parking Lot. A DMV-issued ADA placard is required for entrance into those parking lots.

ADA seating

ADA seating is available within the stands and floor of the Rodeo Arena. No additional ticket beyond a guest ticket is required. General Admission guest tickets may be exchanged for ADA Tickets on a 1:1 basis. ADA and companion seating is available on a first come, first serve basis.

ADA paths of travel

Access to the venues are ADA grade compliant. Distances from entrances to ADA seating and other locations are outlined below. Limited cart service for those with ADA or mobility issues is available on a first come, first serve basis from the ADA parking lots to the entrance gates of both facilities. No cart service is available within the facility beyond the front gate.

Distances:

Feet From To

371

Front Gates

ADA elevator in West Grandstands

469

Front Gates

ADA Seats in West Grandstands

554

Front Gates

ADA Section on Arena Floor

97

Front Gates

Alternate Viewing

319

Front Gates

Commencement Festival Grass

452

Front Gates

ADA Overflow Parking in M1

108

Front Gates

ADA Parking in front of Guest Services (Lot L)

Service animals

Service animals will be admitted as provided by law. Emotional support animals are not required to be admitted by law and will NOT be admitted.

Entry and Security

  • All attendees are required to walk through metal detectors or be wanded, if unable to use the walk-through metal detector.
  • All bags, jackets and blankets will be reviewed upon entry.
  • No outside food and beverages permitted.

Bag Policy

  • Clear Bags – All bags, urses and backpacks brought into the venue must be clear and be under 12” by 6”x12”.
  • Logo Area – The logo’d area of any clear bag cannot exceed 4.5”x3.4”
  • Non-Clear Bags – Any non-clear bags are limited and not to exceed 4.5”x8.5”

Prohibited Items

For your safety and comfort, as well as those around you, the following items are not allowed in the venue. Any items deemed to be inappropriate, offensive or potentially hazardous by security, staff or facility management may be confiscated.

  • Aerosol cans — e.g., sunblock, pepper spray, mace, hairspray, silly string, etc.
  • Alcohol, smoking and tobacco products
  • Animals — except approved certified service dogs
  • Artificial noisemakers
  • Balloons, glitter, rice, streamers and confetti
  • Banners and signs over 22”x28”
  • Cans, glass Bottles and personal coolers
  • Confetti, poppers or streamers
  • Hard or soft-sided coolers of any kind
  • Illegal substances, drugs or chemicals of any kind
  • Laser pointers
  • Metal, plastic or glass water bottles or containers of any kind
  • Noisemakers, plastic horns, air horns, whistles or musical instruments of any kind
  • Outside food and drinks
  • Poles and sticks/staffs including but not limited to metal, plastic or wood
  • Professional camera equipment, including but not limited to tripods, battery packs and large commercial video cameras
  • Remote-controlled aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems or drones
  • Skates, skateboards, scooters, hoverboards or bicycles
  • Strollers or car seats
  • Umbrellas, beach balls, frisbees, sports equipment and toys
  • Video Cameras, including Gopro type video cameras
  • Weapons or incendiary devices of any kind

Animal Policy

  • No animals may be left in any vehicle parked on property for longer than 15 minutes.

In support of CSUMB’s commitment to sustainability, three waste sorting bins will be provided for use by attendees.

Parking

There is parking available on and off-site.

Please use this link to view on-site parking options.

Please use this link to view off-site parking. 

Except as noted on the maps, no permits are necessary.

Shuttle Schedule

Want to be more sustainable? Want to skip the stress of driving in Commencement traffic? No transportation?

Park and ride the shuttle to Commencement. This shuttle service is free and available for graduates, guests, staff, and faculty. View the shuttle schedule here.

Commencement 2025 Map
CSUMB graduates walking to their seats during the commencement event

Questions? We’re Here to Help.

Our offices are located in Building 29 at CSUMB, 100 Campus Center, Seaside, CA 93955.

Directions to Commencement

Get directions to this year’s Commencement ceremonies.

Commencement

To learn more about Commencement, contact us at: