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Avery Aquatic Center does not look like much from Campus Drive. It is a set of outdoor pools behind a grandstand in the athletics district near Stanford Stadium. Inside, though, it is one of the busiest college aquatic venues in the country. Olympic swimmers, national champion water polo players and artistic swimmers train here year-round under open sky.
This page covers the venue, the teams that use it, how to watch a meet and the honest answer on public swimming. For the bigger picture of Stanford sports, including tickets and game day rules, see our guide to Stanford sports and game days.
From deGuerre to Avery
Stanford's modern pools date to 1972, when the deGuerre Pool Complex opened. It was named for Dorothy and Sidney deGuerre. For more than two decades it served Stanford's swimmers and water polo teams as they built one of the strongest aquatics programs in college sport.
In May 1999 Stanford began a major renovation and expansion. Most of the money came from Burt and Marion Avery and their family, whose name the complex now carries. Two new team locker rooms were finished in 2000 and the center has run in its current form since 2001. Earlier team rooms were refurbished in 1996 and again in 2010.
The pools and the dive tower
The center has four bodies of water, each with its own job. Stanford Athletics lists them as follows.
| Pool | Size | Depth | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avery Competition Pool | 37 by 20 meters | 11 to 14 feet | Meets, with 1 and 3 meter springboards at the south end |
| Maas Diving Center | Dive tower and springboards | Deep well | Platform and springboard diving |
| Belardi Pool | 50 by 25 meters | 11 feet at the center | Long course swimming and water polo |
| Baker Pool | 50 meters by 25 yards | 4.5 to 8.5 feet | Training |
The concrete dive tower of the Maas Diving Center is the landmark you can see from outside. It has platforms at 1, 3, 5, 7.5 and 10 meters, flanked by pairs of 1 and 3 meter springboards. Stanford Athletics describes the competition pool as one of the fastest in the nation.
Because every pool is outdoors, meets here feel different from indoor natatoriums. Spring afternoons bring sun and a breeze off the bay. Winter evening meets can be cold in the stands, even with heated water.
The teams that use it
Avery is home to five Stanford programs:
- Men's swimming and diving
- Women's swimming and diving
- Men's water polo, which competes in the MPSF rather than the ACC
- Women's water polo
- Artistic swimming, the sport formerly called synchronized swimming
Stanford Athletics calls Avery the home of dozens of conference, NCAA and national collegiate team champions and hundreds of individual champions. Women's swimming is the program most visitors know, after a long run of NCAA titles and Olympic medalists. Both water polo programs are perennial contenders too. U.S. national swimming and water polo teams have trained at Avery before leaving for the Olympic Games on several occasions.
The venue has hosted national championships at many levels in swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming. One example is the 2003 NCAA men's water polo championship.
Watching a meet or match
Avery is one of the easiest places to see top college sport for free. According to Stanford Athletics:
- Regular season swimming, diving and artistic swimming events are free.
- Men's water polo began ticketing regular season games with the 2025 season, a first for the program.
- Postseason events and some special events need a ticket.
- Day-of-event ticket windows are at the east entrance.
- Advance tickets come from the Stanford Athletics ticket office (1-800-STANFORD), whose phone hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The office is at Gate 2 of Stanford Stadium; walk-up hours can differ, so call or check gostanford.com before you go.
Seating is aluminum bleachers in grandstands on both sides. Stanford lists 2,480 fixed seats, plus 25 wheelchair spaces and 25 companion seats for a total of 2,530. Small cameras under 6 inches are allowed without cases. Tripods are not. Restrooms are on the east and west sides of the stands on the plaza level.
What a meet looks like
A regular season swim meet is usually a dual meet against one visiting school. Races run quickly, one after another. Divers compete on the springboards and the tower at the same time in their own well. A full meet takes a few hours, but nobody minds if you come for an hour and leave. Water polo is easier to follow for newcomers. Games last four quarters of eight minutes of playing time and the clock stops often, so plan on roughly an hour and a half. Artistic swimming meets mix technical and free routines set to music, judged much like figure skating.
Good to know
- Swim seasons run mainly from fall to March. Men's water polo plays in fall and women's water polo in spring.
- Bring sunglasses and a hat for day meets. The stands face open water and glare.
- Bring a jacket for evening events in winter.
- Schedules change often. Check each team's page on gostanford.com the week of the event.
Can the public swim here?
Not as drop-in visitors. Avery belongs to Stanford Athletics and Stanford Recreation and Wellness. As our swimming pools guide explains, Stanford's pools are for members of its recreation programs. Stanford Recreation and Wellness says its recreation pool at Avery is open to members for lap and recreation swimming. The main competition pools are closed to general members for most of the year, except for masters swimmers. Memberships are not sold to the general public; they are for Stanford affiliates, alumni association members and approved community affiliates. For eligibility and fees, check Stanford Recreation and Wellness before you plan a swim.
For a public pool in Palo Alto, the best option is Rinconada Pool, which is open year-round in Rinconada Park. The city's swimming pages list lap swim, open swim and lessons.
Getting there and parking
Avery sits in the athletics district between Campus Drive and El Camino Real, near Stanford Stadium, Maples Pavilion and Sunken Diamond. Stanford Athletics sends spectators to the Varsity Lot and to Lot 2, also called the El Camino Grove lot, north of Cagan Stadium. Both are reached via Nelson Road. Overflow parking for large events is east of Stanford Stadium. Disabled parking requires a valid placard from any state.
The main east entrance is wheelchair accessible and an elevator on the west side serves the pool deck. Accessible seats are at the north end and at the southwest and southeast corners of the stands.
By transit, take Caltrain to Palo Alto and walk about 20 minutes through campus, or ride the free Marguerite shuttle on weekdays. Our Stanford parking and transit guide has details on paying for visitor spaces.
Make a day of it
A swim meet pairs well with other sports in the same corner of campus. On spring weekends you can often catch baseball at Sunken Diamond, tennis at the Taube Tennis Center or a track meet at Cobb Track and Angell Field, all within a few minutes' walk. Families traveling for a championship meet often stay near campus. If that is you, compare hotels near Stanford early, since big meets can coincide with other campus events.
Frequently asked questions
Can the public swim at Avery Aquatic Center?
Not on a drop-in basis. Stanford's pools are for members of Stanford Recreation and Wellness programs. Those memberships are limited to Stanford affiliates, alumni association members and approved community affiliates. The recreation pool is open to members for lap and recreation swimming, while the main competition pools serve the varsity teams and masters swimmers for most of the year. For public swimming, use Palo Alto's city pools such as Rinconada Pool.
Are Stanford swim meets free?
Yes for regular season events. Stanford Athletics lists regular season swimming, diving and artistic swimming at Avery as free. Postseason meets and some special events need a ticket.
Do I need a ticket for Stanford water polo?
For men's water polo, yes. Stanford began ticketing regular season men's water polo games at Avery with the 2025 season. Check each team's schedule on gostanford.com for current admission details.
Where do I park for Avery Aquatic Center?
Stanford Athletics points spectators to the Varsity Lot and Lot 2, the El Camino Grove lot, both reached from Nelson Road. Overflow parking for big events is east of Stanford Stadium. Visitor parking on campus is paid unless signs say otherwise.