The University of California, Berkeley has announced a $10 million gift from longtime supporters Lisa and Douglas Goldman to help support renovation of the school's Memorial Stadium.

Awarded through the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, the gift will be used to help create a new 1.5-acre public space at the stadium that provides students and visitors with an attractive gathering place year-round. Among other things, the university plans to use the space for academic events, conferences, and performances. In recognition of the gift, the space, which is set to open in time for the school's first football game on September 1, will be named the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Plaza.

Last year, the Goldman Fund awarded a $1 million grant in support of the school's Save Cal Baseball campaign. That gift was part of an effort by alumni to boost support for the university's intercollegiate athletics program, which was threatened with budget cuts and a reduction in the number of fielded teams.

"Lisa and I are grateful to have the opportunity to grant via our foundation this contribution to Cal Athletics and to support the California Memorial Stadium renovation," said Doug Goldman. "This, our largest donation to date to UC Berkeley, is another expression of our commitment to both the academic and athletic mission of the greatest public university on the planet. As the fourth of five generations to have attended and supported Cal, I very much hope that our gift will inspire others — alumni and friends — to step up and do likewise. Go Bears!"