Cal Football to Play 2011 Home Games at AT&T Park
by Avinash Kunnath on May 9, 2010 8:38 PM PDT
in California Golden Bears Football
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via xatal.com
As expected, the decision for next year's venue has been handed down. Looks like 256 of our 750 voters are going to be very happy. And 154 voters were very right. Okanes gets the scoop.
Cal had been considering bids from AT&T Park, Candlestick Park and the Oakland Coliseum. The school was believed to see advantages and disadvantages of each venue. Candlestick obviously is the most outdated stadium and also the farthest away from Cal. The Coliseum could have been a scheduling headache with the A’s and Raiders also playing there, but it’s the closest to campus. The biggest drawback of AT&T is that it has a significantly less capacity than Candlestick or the Coliseum. But it also is the newest facility with the best amenities, and considering it is right off the Bay Bridge, it’s a tolerable location.
So there are plenty of merits listed above. Let's give our expanded pros and cons after the jump.
Updates from the press conference: (also, thanks to CaliforniaEternal for updating us in the comments). If you missed it, you can watch it here.
- AT&T Park will be adjusted to hold around 45k. Still a far cry from Memorial, but it should be a pretty decent increase from the current capacity.
- There will be up to six home games. So that means five games at home or six, since we already know we have six road games.
- A 24 hour turnaround from football to baseball and back is feasible (although unlikely, since baseball series usually start on Friday on weekends, meaning that SF would have to be on the road the week Cal is playing at home). So I'm guessing the Bears and Giants will just alternate the park week-by-week until their season concludes.
- As I suspected, there will be separate sidelines. I was pretty sure Tedford wasn't going to have five or six Emerald Bowl experiences having to go from the zero to the fifty.
- Visiting tickets will be hard to come by, so it'll be a true home field advantage (however, it won't be easy to come by single season tickets. Looks like it'll be a year for the season ticket holders).
- Cal athletic director Sandy Barbour believes the school will be able to accommodate its approximately 38,000 season ticketholders.
- A Giant playoff run next October could mean the Bears have to play at an alternate location during that month.
- The goal again is to be back in Memorial by opening day 2012.
What are your thoughts on this decision? Agree or disagree? Vote in the poll and register your thoughts in the comments.
Some pros are obvious.
1) Close proximity to San Francisco, which should be attractive to students (tailgate, then explore and/or party afterwards).
2) Great bar scene in the South Beach area for the alums, way better than anything at Berkeley.
3) Good transportation from around the Bay (BART from East Bay, CalTrain from around the peninsula and South Bay); should be relatively easy for fans to get to and from games.
4) Natural grass field will be an interesting adjustment for our players, but since I assume we'll be practicing at Witter next year while Memorial gets the retrofit, our team will be well-adjusted to the playing surface.
5) Picturesque scene with McCovey Cove and the Bay right behind the stadium. Not quite as good as Memorial (how do you beat the whole Bay?) but it's pretty ideal.
Also, the drawbacks.
1) Smallest stadium, which could mean the weakest home crowd advantage, and trouble for non-season ticket holders to buy individual games. Other than the students and young alum, it's likely that only the richest fans will be able to attend Cal games next season.
2) It's a baseball field. Converting it to a football stadium is not going to be easy, and we could see at least two or three games played with that annoying infield still in place (Dolphins and Raiders games get super messy in September with that dirt track in one corner of the field).
3) If the Emerald Bowl is any indication, we might have sideline issues.
4) Playing with a baseball field for at least the September games, possibly the October games. Might mean lots of home games near the tail-end of the season, when it gets miserably cold.
5) For those who choose to drive...we wish you luck. Could have wandering first quarter crowds that only start filling up by the second quarter.
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you forgot in-stadium alcohol sales.
i’d imagine that the crowds will be smaller, but it should be considered an upset if the season doesn’t sell out.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
Guessing they may not offer this for college games…U$C stopped a few years ago and as much as I like to party at games, it was really out of control
"It's on the ROOF, oh yeah, one hundred PROOF, oh yeah....."
by TKE Prytanis 79 on May 9, 2010 10:12 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
"here's your beer, sir..."
“that will be $10.”
If they said nothing about reducing concession prices, that would go a long way towards making up whatever revenue/discount they’re giving Cal.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 7:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Do the Giants make the profit there or does it go to whatever firm they outsourced it to? My understanding is that Airmark at the Coliseum makes all the profit and they have to pay the As a lump sum upfront.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I don't know how the specific deal works
They’re run by “Centerplate”, but I don’t know what the split is. I doubt the Giants would give away that much money with a flat license fee.
At any rate, the top level concession stands are not open for all games, especially during the week when they don’t expect a big crowd. If they have 5 or 6 guaranteed Saturday sellouts those stands will all be open.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions
sounds like a split
http://www.centerplate.com/clients/maximum-return
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions
As with the Emerald Bowl
Beer at the game, or not, is really a moot point, when you’ve got the 21st Amendment just up the street for all your pre- and post-game festivities! Go Giants and Go Bears!
Go Bears!
by California Pete on May 10, 2010 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions
this
there ARE places other than parking lots in SF.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Do we have any idea...
whom we will be playing in our two remaining open slots for nonconference games? If memory serves, at least one of those games has to be a home game, to meet our NCAA D-1 requirement that we have at least 5 home games.
I am a Vereenian.
Oh, I wouldn’t either. If I had to venture a guess, I’d say we either schedule 2 “C” opponents at AT&T or one “C” opponent at AT&T and a road game at an “A” or “B” opponent.
I am a Vereenian.
Since we already have a road game with Colorado (technically our “A” opponent although who knows how good they’ll be), I’d guess Tedford will try his best to get two home games against Bs and Cs. Cal hasn’t played a five game home schedule since 2004.
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on May 9, 2010 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions
either of the above are the right answer
unless it’s raining. I’d like to think they’ll stack up trains for the end of the game, but they don’t seem to bother to do this for Giants games any more since they opened the Third Street train. I’ve waited an hour for a train before.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 7:05 AM PDT up reply actions
really?! every game i’ve taken the train to this season still stacks the trains up after the game’s over :(
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
by GoldBlooded on May 10, 2010 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions
yes, really
but I admit I pretty much just walk to BART instead. A variant problem is the backup getting into Embarcadero, and I’ve spent 30 minutes or more in the tunnel.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions
I love walking to the Giants stadium along the Embarcadero. Its so gorgeous!
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I love walking to the A’s games along International Boulevard. I KEEPS IT REAL AND TRUE TO THE STREETS REPRESENT THUG LYFE YO.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 10, 2010 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
At least we agree on something…
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
by CruzinBears on May 10, 2010 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions
you're right
the parking lot is AWESOME!
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions
I had a great time watching the Emerald Bowl at AT&T. Granted, I had excellent seats that I won’t necessarily have for the 2011 season. But from a convenience/spectator/tailgating point of view this is a fine situation. It’s too bad that the team may lose out on some revenue because of capacity, but that’s the only real downside I see.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
It’s an easy walk. Quickest way is Montgomery station, but if you get off at Embarcadero you get a beautiful walk down the waterfront.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
The only thing I can say good about this is hopefully there won’t be 20k $uc fans there when they come up!
I think this isnt the best option. But it is the least worst.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Candlestick would have been worse, location-wise, but this is pretty bad. From my seats at the Emerald Bowl we could not see one entire end zone, or even see the field from about the 10-yard-line to the end zone. We had to watch the big TV screen to see Cal’s winning TD. Horrible.
Exit, Pursued By A Bear
Would you have selected Candlestick instead?
Are there are suggestions or recommendations to make the ATT experience better?
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I think the real drawbacks to AT&T are both intractable problems. There isn’t room for more seats, and the seats that are there are often not designed to get a good view of a football field.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
It's possible to end up with a stiff neck
watching a baseball game there; I suspect that might get worse with the FB field in place.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 7:07 AM PDT up reply actions
meh, all locations had problems. at&t and candlestick seem interchangable to me
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
at&t and candlestick seem interchangable to me
Giants fans would vehemently disagree.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
i still disagree. the public transit options to candlestick are pretty terrible, as is the stadium itself. the stick was the worst option by far.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
more seats? better parking? those balance out with the public transit/location issues in my mind
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Those seats will look great empty when people don’t want to have to deal with the headache of getting in and out of the Stick.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
well, then i would argue that the capacity problem at AT&T isn’t as bad, because not all season ticket holders will want to go there, either
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Somehow 49er fans have figured out how to do it.... I really think you are overstating the logistcal challenge... It can suck at the stick but at least everyone would have a decent field view
"It's on the ROOF, oh yeah, one hundred PROOF, oh yeah....."
by TKE Prytanis 79 on May 9, 2010 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Sorry…did not mean to put this in the title line…dang iPhone
"It's on the ROOF, oh yeah, one hundred PROOF, oh yeah....."
by TKE Prytanis 79 on May 9, 2010 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions
But compared to the ATT, I think it is worse. Feel free to disagree but I don’t think that is a controversial view to hold. So, Cal is looking at this as follows:
Better views and more seats does not overcome much further away from campus PLUS much worse public transportation. It’s a balancing act.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Gotcha
We’ll agree to disagree on this one…
"It's on the ROOF, oh yeah, one hundred PROOF, oh yeah....."
by TKE Prytanis 79 on May 9, 2010 10:25 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
san mateo → caltrain → millbrae bart → balboa park bart → 29 → candlestick. takes a while, but that’s something that you deal with with public transportation, i think
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Would you do that for 5 games if you had no other option? My guess is yes, you probably would. But for students and people that kids or don’t have that amount of time, public transportation is not the most economical and time efficient option.
I think it has to do a lot with where someone lives. GoldBlooded is on the Peninsula, so Candlestick is less of a trip. Like I posted above, the ’stick would have added tons of time to my commute. And I there is no way I want to drive to a football game.
well, the way i see it, the people who are getting screwed are casual student fans, who do not want to add an extra two hours to their gamedays and/or who do not own cars, which seems trivial to me, since my entire saturday was shot every home game anyways. i also think that from a purely monetary standpoint (university’s decisons) that student season tickets are not exactly a money-maker. i am glad that the students get awesome seats at memorial, and i want it to stay that way, but for one season, i would drag my ass to the stick if it meant i might have a seat, as opposed to having to watch on TV even though att is closer to campus. that’s my own opinion though, what do you guys think?
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
I think you need to remember the “enter” button from time to time. Hard Return, bitches!
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Yeah, I’d rather the stick. The argument seems to be “but if it’s at the Stick no one can get to games!” (without a car) (which apparently no one in CA has anymore.)
But at ATT no one can get to the games either….because there’s 20000 fewer seats.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 9, 2010 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions
I dunno, restricting the supply of student tickets might be a good thing in terms of how good the student section is. Casual student fans are the ones who usually don’t make noise and leave early when we’re losing (see: USC 2009). At the Big Game last year, the student section was AWESOME since it was pretty much only students dedicated enough to order tickets in the 45 minutes during which they were available.
Agreed
I’ve done it many times, and not all that bad
"It's on the ROOF, oh yeah, one hundred PROOF, oh yeah....."
by TKE Prytanis 79 on May 9, 2010 10:08 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Dude, thats “takes a while” from San Mateo, let alone Berkeley or even parts more North or East of Berkeley.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
but you’re assuming that our non-student fanbase is in berkeley. i don’t actually know where in the bay cal fans come from. what about the ones that come from pleasanton? tracy? SACRAMENTO? they’re already using a huge part of their day to get to parking-unfriendly berkeley. if they’re public transporting it, more power to ‘em, but we who rely upon it know to plan far far in advance. if they’re driving, the stick adds maybe 30 minutes at the most
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Driving from Berkeley to the Stick is not 30 minutes. Especially not on a Saturday.
Moreover, why are we focusing solely on the non-student fanbase?
And I am not assuming the non-student fanbase is in berkeley. I am saying that for those who comes from places more north or east of Berkeley, it’d be even worse. That is not just El Cerrito and Lafayette. It also includes places such as Sacramento.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
i’m focusing on them because they are much more likely to not be located in berkeley.
for those driving, the distance in the city from att to candlestick is negligible if they are coming from further than berkeley, traffic always sucks on gamedays anywhere in the bay
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
I’m actually worried about this choice. In these tough times, if a ticketholder can’t get tickets for 2011, are they going to be much more likely to NOT renew in 2012? Having that extra $500, 1000, 2000 or whatever in the family budget might appear very appealing. I’m really worried that we’ll lose ticketholders with this move.
Alls I know is, the hardest part of a brand is getting loyal customers. If we lose some, how easy is it going to be to get them back? If I were the AD, I’d offer BIGTIME discounts in 2012 to season ticketholders who can’t get tickets in 2011.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 9, 2010 9:29 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
but, the alternative is not upgrading the stadium? this is a problem of necessity, i would argue, and any cal grad/fan should understand that it’s not being done to spite anyone
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Oh, certainly not!!! I guess I’m surprised they didn’t land at the Coliseum. I figured they would do whatever it costs to end up there and were merely playing lip service to the other two.
I don’t believe that the Coliseum was ever a realistic option. Cal would have had to have home games every time the Raiders did. Balancing the schedules with the As and the Raiders would have proven impossible.
If the choice was between the Stick and the ATT, Spazzy, do you still believe they made the wrong decision? I agree that season ticket holders are the most important thing. I agree that losing that base, in any way, is bad.
But, like Goldblooded said, what are the options here? We had to do this, because of the stadium upgrade. The best option was, perhaps, Coliseum. Like I said above, I think this is the least worst.
Like Ragnarok said, there are some problems with ATT. But I think they are eminently unfixable.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I woulda taken the Stick. Pretty much everyone but some of the students could easily get there. The parking/access is nowhere near as bad a sitch as some make it out to be (the 9ers do it just fine…)
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 10, 2010 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m having trouble with the premise that playing one year in AT&T Park would alienate a substantial number of season ticket holders to the point that they would not return when Cal football comes home to the renovated heaven on Earth Memorial Stadium. I think it more likely that some season ticket holders will not renew their tickets for 2011 and just skip the year that the games are at AT&T.
I am a Vereenian.
i would hope that the season ticket holders that do get shafted (because they will) are not penalized for not renewing, and still getting to keep their priority seating. this also looks like an excellent scapegoat for the seat-reshuffling transition to the ESP that’s going to begin in 2012!
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Absolutely agree. If a season ticket holder can’t get 2011 tickets, that person should not be penalized for priority seating in 2012. (Provided that the person actually tried to get 2011 tickets.)
I am a Vereenian.
The only group of season ticketholders that will be reduced in number is the students. There is no way the full 10,000 seat student section can be accommodated at the ballpark. Besides that, I don’t see how anyone who has been a season ticketholder for more than a few years will have any trouble getting tickets.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 9, 2010 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Wait, you’re worried about getting ticketholders back? I’ve got an idea, lets tell them there’s a new-and-improved stadium! Yeah… I think getting the ticketholders back is not gonna be an issue.
Well, I can dig it.
I would have preferred either the Colosseum or Stick, but AT&T does have the better services and does not have the scheduling problems.
I look forward to seeing the games there in 2011!
"Today's weather, excessively violent with a chance of dismemberment. Tune in later for our 5-day forecast!"
~ Three Dog - Fallout 3
I do feel that this is probably the lesser of the evils. But as much as I like the idea of AT&T being closer and more convenient, I do remember the awkwardness of the Emerald Bowl layout (including the sideline issues).
Also, what nobody has mentioned is that Oakland or the Stick would have provided awesome tailgate space that Cal fans have never experienced at a home game before!
I think the tailgate space at AT&T (at least during the emerald bowl) was actually quite adequate.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
We may never get all the details, but I’d guess that AT&T probably offered the best financial deal, which will help offset the reduction in seats (which itself may result in higher ticket prices). For me, the pros listed above far outweigh the cons, and hey, it’s just for one season.
The fact that we’re choosing to play our home games in a baseball-only park is a pretty strong indictment of the sorry state of our professional stadiums.
If anybody should be mad, it should be Giants fans. They are gonna have to deal with a football field for a while thre.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Wondering if the coaches will take advantage of the home field
Did the teams (usc and BC) share a sideline at last year’s Emerald Bowl? If so, I’m guessing we can assume that we will share a sideline for 2011 as well.
And since we had so many problems vs. Miami two years ago in regard to changes in personnel on both sides of the ball, hopefully the coaching staff will add some wrinkles to take advantage of field position at ATT. If we can run some no-huddle or hustle to the line on offense, we can probably force the defenses into mismatches and wasted time outs. And hopefully we won’t get caught with our pants down when we are on D. It could be a significant advantage for us.
One likely problem is that we will have an inexperienced QB, so we may not be able to run a quick offense like that. But it might work as the season goes on and they get more playing time.
I was thinking about that. Hopefully the team gets a chance to play a few simulated games at AT&T to give them an advantage on substitution issues. Or at least hopefully the first game is against an FCS team. It could be a secret home field advantage for 2011.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
I’m guessing they’ll try and find a way to modify it so there are two sidelines. I can’t imagine Tedford enjoyed the one sideline policy at the Emerald Bowl and he probably stipulated separate sidelines if at all possible.
Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on May 9, 2010 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I just got recruited by a friend to join him for SJSU games.
According to him you can get a lot better seats for a lot less $$$. But I’m a BEAR fan !!! I can see where SJSU could gain fans from the Fremont/Hayward area.
Just give it another 10 years and the SJSU football program will get shut down.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 9, 2010 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions
ftfy
Just give it another 10 years
It’s going to be a bad budget year. Again.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 7:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Why do people think driving to AT&T will be a nightmare? There’s a whole huge parking lot (A) that never comes close to filling up for Giant’s games. It will still be there in fall 2011, though it is scheduled to disappear sometime after that.
I’m OK with this decision. It’s basically the same distance from Cal as the Coliseum (13 miles vs 12), and will be much more convenient for ME, which is all that really matters.
The Scootie factor was, most likely, the tipping point in this determination.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
It’s 14,357 km for me to at&t park
or 14,374 km for me to Oakland. So I think this is more convienent for me.
but that's just to get to Japan
to get from Japan to Hawaii and from Hawaii to the west coast you have to kayak. And here’s what I’ve never understood – why kayak all the way up to Seattle? I mean, gasworks park would be a lovely place to dock after kayaking from Hawaii, but couldn’t you just kayak straight to SF?
If you don't like Brandon Medders you're not a true fan.
I'm actually OK with this...
…the Giants own AT&T Park and are still servicing that debt, so I’m sure they made the University a good offer for the sake of five more home dates with (presumably) sellout crowds. Plus it will make it devilish hard for visiting teams to get seats…
Here’s my thought: 5 home games is a little light. Notre Dame has played “home” games in places like San Antonio and Orlando. Schools like Bama and VaTech have taken to playing neutral-site home openers. So…
What would you think of a schedule with five home games at AT&T, presumably U$C and Stanfurd on the road (well I say on the road but let’s face it, Palo Alto is Oski’s house), and a sixth quasi-home/neutral site game in San Diego? Good opportunity to play a “home” game in southern California (after all, this is THE University of California, might as well claim the whole state), interesting change of pace, and possibly a good way to monetize a bad situation as far as home opportunities. (If played early in the year and against a big enough opponent, it could also be a way to get media attention while avoiding a conflict with the Giants in the heat of the pennant race. Yes, I’m looking ahead, shoot me – I believe in Lincecum and Cain and pray for rain.)
So anyway, if Cal could schedule a home game in SD in Sept 2011 against, say, Alabama or Florida State or Virginia Tech or somebody – would you be in favor? (Be advised that although it would draw absolutely nobody, I am willing to offer Vandy up as an easy SEC-opponent win. Hey, we’ve won a bowl game…this century…)
"Well, if that ain't a show, I'll kiss your ass." - Gov. Jim Folsom Sr. (D-AL), 1948-52
USC is a home game in 2011. That presumably cannot be changed, as it would mess up the rest of the P-10 schedule to do so.
I don’t know about the idea of playing a “home” game in SoCal. A better idea (just, like, my opinion, man) is to schedule a “road” game at San Jose State in 2011. That has the potential to be a “road” game in name only. Sure seemed like a home game when we played there in 1996.
I am a Vereenian.
To be clear, here is the stated 2011 sked on the official site:
2011 (need 2 games)
Sept. 10 – at Colorado
Sept. 24 – Oregon State
Oct. 1 – at UCLA
Oct. 8 – at Washington
Oct. 15 – Washington State
Oct. 29 – Arizona
Nov. 5 – at Oregon
Nov. 12 – USC
Nov. 26 – at Arizona State
Dec. 3 – at Stanford
There are 2 OOC games that need to be added. Presumably they would be home games, insomuch as there are only 4 home games listed there (and you tend to have 6 home gmes in odd years). I am not sure who we could get by now, but 9.3 and 9.17 will probably be filled with a B-level and C-level team.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I don’t think we want to host two OOC games at AT&T Park in September, which it would take to get 6 home games. I wonder if we will get a local “C” team and play them away. (Ohio Bear suggested SJSU, stadium size 30,500.) Or we could do a “home game” in name only in San Diego (maybe against SDSU) as VandyImport suggested…
Any chance Cal will announce the 2011 final schedule tomorrow?
I Googled the UC Davis stadium when I Googled SJSU, and holy shit, the UC Davis stadium is tiny…like 10,000 people and change. On their website they say, “Expanding to 30,000 soon.” Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.
Is that the new UC Davis stadium that’s 10K? Because they just expanded/upgraded it in the last couple years. I went to a game at Davis about 6 years ago (my brother was in the Band-uh), and it was basically a high school stadium then…free-standing bleachers along both sides, standing room by the fences everywhere else.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
yes, they built a new one that’s now seats around 10-15k-ish (I think it opened in ’06?). It has the capability of expanding to 30k should they join a real football conference. I think South Dakota St is a league game.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
Witter field is going to be turf to accommodate all the traffic, so no they won’t be used to the turf.
So does anyone have actual numbers on
- The number of season ticket holders we have – I remember it being north of 40k a couple years ago, are we still drawing that well given the economy and the team’s lack of success? (I cannot find this in quick google searches)
- The number of tickets required to be made available to the road team
- The number of seats that will be available in football configuration (I see that we had 42,268 for our Emerald Bowl win over Miami)
It seems to me that there will not be too many season ticket holders turned away, and if there are it may be the lower revenue ticket holders with the blue/gold zone / family plans.
My guess is we have less than 40k. The AD hasn’t published any recent season ticket count, which probably means there was a decrease in the total number. I think the peak was something like 42,000 in 2006. I remember they kept boasting about it in all the press releases how the season ticket numbers kept increasing, and I’m sure the numbers have gone down since they don’t mention it anymore.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 9, 2010 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Looks like the peak was 41.366 in 2007, can’t find anything since, which as you say implies the numbers have gone down.
Yeah, seems like everyone that has season tickets should be able to renew without any trouble. There will be very limited single ticket availability though.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 12:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Like the location, but fearing for my ticket situation for the 2011 season. As an alum living in Southern California, I only make it to 2-3 home games a season (usually, the LA game, big non-con, and Big Game. Plus, of course, the game in LA for away). Buying season tickets usually doesn’t make much sense…but with apparent seating shortage, I might have to buy season tickets for that season. But wondering, would I have to buy this year’s season tix to qualify for next year’s season tix? But, as previously discussed, would there even be season tix? It would seriously irk me to not be able to go to Cal home games.
I like the location, but not the stadium. Would of preferred the Coliseum or Candlestick, but I can see the reasons why not.
If I were you I would buy this year because that will give you priority over everyone else who will be buying season tickets for the first time next year. I’m guessing everyone who has season tickets for at least one year in advance should be able to renew for 2011 at ATT. Besides the SC game, there will probably be plenty of reasonably priced tickets available on the secondary market for the other conference games.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 9, 2010 11:52 PM PDT up reply actions
same boat
I share a pair of tickets with my buddy who lives in the Bay Area. I will definitely buy season tickets for 2011 because I want the best seating for 2012 when they shift everyone out of the ESP seating area. Not sure what (if anything) changes for season ticket holders now that they have set the venue as ATT, but there have to be some limits. Maybe they will have to shuffle the students and the band around to accommodate everyone else?
by 1988goldenbear on May 9, 2010 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Feels weird thinking about buying season tickets this year for the sake of tickets in 2011.
I do donate to the school, but I’ve never donated to the athletic department. Damn…all those library/general fund donation mailers…haha. Of course, as a fairly young alum, I’m not big time yet. Maybe in a few, but not yet.
FOGHORN BABY! at least it will sound once in a while now….:’(
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
by GoldBlooded on May 10, 2010 12:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Wow, true.
But maybe… just maybe… we’ll get an upgraded cannon along with the upgraded stadium.
I wonder how much these M198 Howitzers go for.
Seriously though, like GB said, there’s always the foghorn if we can’t haul it out.
"Today's weather, excessively violent with a chance of dismemberment. Tune in later for our 5-day forecast!"
~ Three Dog - Fallout 3
Work a deal with the Navy or the Maritime Academy
Run out the guns! Fire on the uproll!
It would give all the kayakers in McCovey Cove something to think about.
Putting a gun on the foredeck of the Golden Bear (the MA’s training vessel) should be easy enough, and probably wouldn’t need city approval. Especially if they moored in the bay and fired shots toward Berkeley!
http://www.csum.edu/News/NewsReleases/2009/documents/GoldenBearDepartsfor2010TrainingVoyagewfoto.pdf
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 7:18 AM PDT up reply actions
THAT WOULD BE AWESOME
Maybe we can even get them to un-mothball the USS Iowa, re-name it the USS California for games, and go from this…
TO THIS…
It would never happen… But you CANNOT say it would not be fucking awesome to have a shore bonbardment whenever we score…
Drew: 'Oh no.. That is certainly the meaty part alright, but it's not the thigh..."
Randy: "No... that bone is NOT connected to the thigh bone..."
www.fearthefin.com
Sidney Crosby is my Cousin
www.pensburgh.com
by SeanCrosby87 on May 11, 2010 7:25 AM PDT up reply actions
the Hornet is just across the bay in Alameda
maybe something can be worked out
by David Wickham on May 19, 2010 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Was there going to be a cannon if they went to Candlestick or the Coliseum? Would they have placed it in Mt. Davis?
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Better chance at Candlestick from what I’d heard. Field is too crowded in the baseball fields for it to fire from the field.
From what I’d heard, we’ve have a better chance of having the cannon fire on the field at Candlestick and an easier time with regulations on the charges that we use at the Coliseum (no bridges to drive over). I’m just hoping something works out to get the cannon to fire at AT&T Park. It’d be pretty sweet.
by Yes We Cannon on May 10, 2010 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions
They could ferry them over…
"UC Davis??? hahahahaha" - Aaron Rodgers
by atomsareenough on May 10, 2010 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions
How are we supposed to win teh championship in the home of losers?
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
Hey, watch yourself. The Giants are the only friendly Bay Area pro team towards Cal. That should count for something even for you A’s fans. And really, it’s a great duo of teams who can commiserate on their lack of winning the big one.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 7:47 AM PDT up reply actions
They’re ambivalent. On a one way street towards San Jose. Their days of Haas ownership are long over.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 8:07 AM PDT up reply actions
your New Jersey Athletics
bringing history full circle and playing near their original home.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions
From a (way) outsider's perspective
I think it’s an outstanding choice.
A)It’s the only choice that can match Strawberry Canyon for sheer scenery (albeit a very different kind)
B)It has the potential to expand the Cal fanbase to casual fans who had never considered making the trek to Berkley
C)It will make for a more intimate venue, perhaps increasing Cal’s homefield advantage; as Oregon and OSU have shown, small can be a good thing.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on May 10, 2010 7:44 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I like this choice
It’s right off the freeway and while the crowds will be smaller, the fans will be right on top of of the opposing players.
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
lol
We’ll probably be playing in the E-bowl in 2011.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
Looks like the press conference is being streamed live at calbears.com at 10 am. I’ll try listening to that because I’m interested to hear what is said about seating capacity. Perhaps the temporary sideline bleachers they put up for the bowl game can be expanded.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 8:19 AM PDT reply actions
Looking at that picture from the Emerald Bowl
I don’t understand why teams have to share a sideline. It looks like there’s enough room for another team on the other sideline. The whole sideline-sharing thing is pretty weird to me and I think, problematic. I hope that they find a way to rectify that when Cal plays there in 2011.
From being at the Emerald Bowl, the reason they didn’t have players on the main stadium sideline is that would have blocked the view of the fans in the first 5-6 rows. AT&T (like most if not all baseball only stadiums) have really low seating around the infield, and the seating is not raked very much. That’s why the players are in a dugout, so they don’t block the view.
Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?
Hey
At least Bryan Anger can warm up for his senior season by punting balls into the cove before every home game
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
by CruzinBears on May 10, 2010 8:46 AM PDT reply actions 4 recs
rec'd
I love Cal punters!
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 8:50 AM PDT up reply actions
rec'd
That picture sounds amazing.
Drew: 'Oh no.. That is certainly the meaty part alright, but it's not the thigh..."
Randy: "No... that bone is NOT connected to the thigh bone..."
www.fearthefin.com
Sidney Crosby is my Cousin
www.pensburgh.com
by SeanCrosby87 on May 11, 2010 7:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Something that just occurred to me…I wonder how Cal is going to divvy up the luxury boxes in AT&T Park? There’s no equivalent seating (yet) in Memorial Stadium. Not that I have a shot at them, but Hydro and I got into a box at a Giants game last year, and they are sweeeeet!
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
Eureka
you may have found one of the reasons AT&T won. Cal gets to sell luxury boxes early, and probably for a lot of money… uh, gifts made in a spirit of disinterested generosity.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 8:51 AM PDT up reply actions
I think that the Giants luxury boxes are probably the best. The most modern. But I’ve never been in one at Candlestik.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I refuse to use
the words “Candlestick” and “luxury box” in the same sentence.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions
The Haas clan will control access. Better get down on your knees and start begging now.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Ferry from Jack London or Alameda?
Will taking a ferry to McCovey Cove from Jack London in Oakland or from Alameda be an option? One from Berkeley would be cool too…
one would think so
since it is an option for Giants games, or was.
In any case you could easily take the ferry and walk down the Embarcadero, regardless of whether or not they directly service the pier at Marina Gate.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Ferries direct to the ballpark will be an amazing way to get to the games. They run service from Alameda and Jack London Square in the East Bay and from Larkspur in Marin. I’m planning to do the Larkspur ferry sometime this summer because the ride seems like a highlight in itself.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions
I would guess they will
sadly there isn’t a ferry from berkeley but I’ve taken the ferry from Alameda to giants games. It’s pretty sweet but the time it takes to get to alameda makes it not really any better than Bart.
If you don't like Brandon Medders you're not a true fan.
It does need to be specifically scheduled for each game though, so the Ferry people will have to decide and plan for this. I have tried to find a regular ferry route from Alameda to that area outside of baseball season and it just doesn’t exist.
I would support a ferry route for these games, but our fam probably won’t take it more than once or twice. It tends to be a little less convenient and a little more expensive. But there is booze on the ferry…
Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?
Well, given that the reason that they had to carry Harry to the ferry in the first place was because Harry couldn’t carry any more, the solution is for Harry to just stay sober.
I am a Vereenian.
The pole needs a fifth option:
“I’m not happy about it, but I’ll be there anyway.”
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
So This.
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
by CruzinBears on May 10, 2010 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions
yup
"UC Davis??? hahahahaha" - Aaron Rodgers
by atomsareenough on May 10, 2010 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
haha press conference is taking place on the field
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 10:06 AM PDT reply actions
podium is near first base
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 10:07 AM PDT reply actions
Baer says up to 6 games will be played
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 10:15 AM PDT reply actions
24 hour turnaround from baseball to football is possible.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 10:16 AM PDT reply actions
if giants have playoff games in 2011, cal will have to play elsewhere if games fall on same day
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 10:17 AM PDT reply actions
good thing they won’t have to worry about that.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
You guys realize the Giants finished 4 games out of a playoff berth last year and are half a game off the division lead right now, right? Playoff baseball is not totally out of the realm of possibility.
Playoff baseball is not totally out of the realm of possibility.
Right, but its the Giants so a deep run into the playoffs is…
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
No, you have to understand how the Giants work. They will do everything to get your hopes up that the elusive championship will finally happen, only to rip it away in the most soul-crushing way possible. So a deep run only to lose in agonizing fashion is quite possible.
Seriously, though, if they get into the playoffs with that pitching staff, it’s quite possible.
I think that the Giants need at least one more bat. They have Pablo Sandoval, but the rest of their offense is fairly weak. The pitching staff is great, no doubting that, but you cant do it on pitching alone.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Dude, as an MLB team, I highly doubt that the lack of bats is what is holding them back. Wooden bats are cheaper than ever. I mean even I have a couple bats. There’s no way it’s bats. What they REALLY need is shoes. They have no shoes.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 10, 2010 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
No argument there — the Giants really need more offense.
However, there are examples of teams that have managed to win a title with great pitching and a mediocre offense (for example, the ’88 Dodgers). Right now, the Giants are slightly below average in run scoring, and at the top of the heap in run prevention.
teams will not share sidelines
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 10:18 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
that's good
although I would have enjoyed a “hideout” play.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
45,000 capacity
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 10:18 AM PDT reply actions
interesting
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions
This was the official number I have not heard until now but I knew capacity was going to be increased to at least the mid-40K range. Current season ticket holders would be fine, it’s new season ticket holders and walk ups that would have a hard time getting in.
And like you noted below, visiting allotments will be greatly reduced which making the park even more Cal dominated. The Athletic Dept has been looking to stick it to SC for a while for the crappy seats we get in the LA Coliseum. Opponents will have some of the worst seats in the house.
True but worst seats in ATT >>>>> >> > >> > > > > > > worst seats in Coliseum.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 10, 2010 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions
not if we put them in the arcade and other seats in the outfield that are completely obstructed by the temporary bleachers! come to think of it, that would be the perfect place to put that SC band.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions 5 recs
I think a barge would be nice
or maybe that big floating drydock down towards Mission Bay
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
potrero hill housing projects would be good too.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Jeez, do you think USC can even fit their band in? It’s so damned large they might have to choose between their band and their fans.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Oh my god if SC doesn’t bring their band it will be the best SC game in the history of the matchup. Even if we lose 100-0.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 10, 2010 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions 5 recs
floating bleachers….facing the wrong way.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 10, 2010 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions
This may be the greatest Cal v. $C home game of all time!!!!
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
by CruzinBears on May 10, 2010 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
sandy says visiting team allotment will be reduced!
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 10:20 AM PDT reply actions
suck it $C
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 10:20 AM PDT reply actions 5 recs
rec'd
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Sandy also said “Suck it $C”?
What a bad ass…
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
by CruzinBears on May 10, 2010 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions
reply fail or just cursing for the heck of it?
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
by CruzinBears on May 10, 2010 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions
found this
Cal athletic director Sandy Barbour believes the school will be able to accommodate its approximately 38,000 season ticketholders.
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
So, in 3 years, we’ve lost like 3K season ticketholders?
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I’m betting 2007 played a big role in that (last year probably didn’t help much either)
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
I’m guessing the unemployment rate being in the range of 10% for the last 2 years has something to do with it too.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 10, 2010 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Student Section
Where is the student section gonna be?
Jack "The Must, Just has no Rust, ain't no Bust, after him the ladies Lust, turns pitchers into Dust, likes his pizza with no Crust" Cust
It's Gonna Suck for Picture Taking
My current seats in Row 1 of the end zone allow me to get some sweet photos at field level. I’m guessing the “cheap seats” at AT&T will be in the upper deck like they were for the Emerald Bowl. Which means I’m not going to be getting any good photos next year. And that’s assuming I can even get my season tickets renewed. I’m sure Bear Backers with big-time donor points will get priority. Folks like me who’ve been getting Blue Zone tickets every year will be at the end of the line.
So having a baseball field with crappy sight-lines for photography and not enough seats for EXISTING season ticket holders is the worst possible option to me.
Getting into the Stick is easy if you come early — it’s only getting out that sucks. But at least the actual GAME would be awesome for fans and players alike.
I’m in mourning today.
Monica’s Dad, the concerns that you expressed regarding picture taking are concerns that I share. However, I don’t think its appropriate for Cal to be really considering those concerns in making this determination. I wish I was wrong, but I think they have to do what they believe is in Cal’s best interest, even if it leads to us shmucks not having the best photography opportunities.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Maybe
Twist will hook you up with the surely-forthcoming CGB press pass…
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions
This isn't going to make visiting teams happy either
Smaller seating capacity means a much smaller ticket allotment for opponents. So with USC expected to make the trek up to NorCal in 2011, I can say that most of us aren’t that excited about the venue. But hey, we can relive the glory years of the 2009 Emerald Bowl. Great times!
--Conquest Chronicles , SBNation's USC Trojans blog
Follow me on Twitter @Joey_Kaufman
Don’t worry there will be plenty of space for the band, on some bleachers
on a barge
headed for Singapore.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 10, 2010 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Poll Needs a 6th Option
(5th option mentioned earlier)
I’m really f**king pissed about it, and won’t be crossing a f**king bridge, and Cal can kiss my season ticket money, and donation goodbye for 2011.
They better give me my seats back at the same priority in the new stadium for 2012, or they hate their fans worse than this decision makes it seem to me already.
I can’t believe how many of you are OK with this, or even happy about it. I think there are SF lovers out there who have disdain for the East Bay, and secretly wish everything was in SF, including their Golden Bears.
Well, we’re not in SF. Cal is in Berkeley – I grew up in the East Bay and have lived here most of my life outside of Grad School, and SF has always been a pain to get to. I want my Bears on THIS side of the damned Bay.
I’m SO pissed off…
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 10, 2010 1:46 PM PDT reply actions
No please, tell us how you really feel…
But seriously, I don’t think many people are as upset as you seem to be because it is only one year and in 2012 we get a “new” Memorial stadium
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
I’m excited about a new Memorial. I can be as pissed as I want about 2011. This is a blog on the interweb! I can say anything. ANYTHING!
I’m not interested in rehashing the discussion about the most ‘logical’ choice. I didn’t want AT&T park, and I’m pissed. I wanted the Coliseum. If everyone else is happy – good for Cal football. Please send bigger donations in 2011, to make up for whiners like me.
And Longshore beat up my dog!
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 10, 2010 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions
I wanted the Coliseum, too! But I’m also trying to act reasonable about it.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
See. There's your problem right there.
I can remain reasonable on discussions of whether or not we should start Riley or Longshore – but this!
After reading the press releases, it seems the students will be screwed worse than the season ticket holders…sort of.
Here’s what’s gonna happen – they’re going to see how high demand is from Students and Season Ticket holders. THEN they’re going to assign seats after the fact. The Students will probably bail at a higher rate (b/c they are poor, are not going to arrange transportation, etc.), so the student section will be quite pitiful in 2011.
And the alums, for the most part, will get truly crappy seats they badly overpaid for. Except for the $10k+/seat donors, I bet we get crappy seats in this tiny stadium.
I was an Alum with a very high per-seat donation for the Emerald Bowl. They will screw us.
It will be much wiser to just forget your season ticket package, and buy them on Stubhub at whatever price – and pay good money for good seats.
I’d be happy to be made wrong. Good luck betting against me.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 10, 2010 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions
the reason you come off as unreasonable is your constant claim that there is a better option(oakland). if you can just believe that oakland couldn’t happen, for reasons unknown to us, we’ll gladly join in your lament of not being in memorial for a few games. i don’t think anyone disagrees with this claim that ‘seats at att will be generally worse than at memorial.’ memorial rules, we are all in agreement there (i think) .
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
no - I get it. I am/was just angry.
But we could argue about “couldn’t”. It’s physically possible for Cal to have played games at the Coliseum. Or Candlestick. Or Yankee Stadium. There are challenges (and benefits) to actually getting team+fans into each of those venues.
I think money trumped fans and I lost out. Surprise, surprise.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 10, 2010 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Let’s just forget 2011 is going to happen and think about how awesome our new stadium is gonna be in two short years!
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 10, 2010 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions
OK.
But I post more when I’m angry than when I’m happy.
I use CGB as a rage outlet.
That new stadium is gonna be sweeeeet.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 10, 2010 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
There wasn’t this much rage when Jerrott Willard was losing to Vicky Gallindo in the CGB Hall of Fame vote. Where was that rage then?
Correction: Continues to be losing. It’s open until Frida.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I again reiterate that I dont think its possible to have games at the Coliseum unless we wanted to radically reorganize the schedule to match up with the Raiders sked.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
I TOLD you I didn't want a rational discussion...
Goddammit. You and your logic and reason.
First, Cal could play another damned December (or August) game instead of September. 2nd, they could play 2 non-Saturday games. The Raiders can also schedule Non-Sunday games, even ‘right before’.
But it’s all over, AT&T is the venue, so this is pointless. I don’t want a rational discussion!!!
I want to complain about the incredibly long walk from the BART station, the long BART ride, and the crappy seats I’m not going to know the location of before they ask me for $1000 to ensure I am considered a level-II slave going into 2012 season-ticket holding instead of a level-I slave.
level-II slaves get sandals. And the sand is very hot in August.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 11, 2010 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions
More importantly - I want a seatback poll.
My little crew wrestles with the question of whether or not to get seatbacks.
Pros: Soft place for ass. Metal benches uncomfortable. Back support (sort of). Defines your seats well, and makes it easier to boot people camping. Keeps people from crowding you in.
Cons: Encourages sitting instead of standing. Colored grey, not gold or blue.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 11, 2010 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions
I want to complain about the incredibly long walk from the BART station,
I must have missed the Bart station that stops right next to Memorial Stadium.
by Cali49a on May 11, 2010 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Flagged for making me wrong.
See, I’m just doing this so you guys can be more right about AT&T park. It’s a public service.
however…the Berkeley walk has nicer scenery (namely the best college campus in the world). My tailgate party. And a fake cable car for free that runs every 5 mins.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 11, 2010 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Id rec getting off at Embarcadero and walking down the Embarcadero. Truly gorgeous. We are all lucky to live in the Bay Area with such great physical scenery no matter where you go, easy west north or south.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on May 11, 2010 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
But thanks for the satellite photo - it shows...
…how lame that stadium is for football. It’s missing a freakin’ SIDE. And those temp bleachers they bring in totally bite.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 11, 2010 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions
IT'S CAL FOOTBALL! YOU GET TO WATCH IT! LIVE! BE HAPPY!
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 11, 2010 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions
There are free shuttles from the Berkeley BART station to Memorial running every couple of minutes. Is that going to be true for AT&T?
Exit, Pursued By A Bear
Sounds like you have a complicated relationship with Cal Athletics.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 11, 2010 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions
It’s physically possible for Cal to have played games at the Coliseum
Yes, it’s physically possible but with 2 pro teams splitting time there already, it was way too hard to juggle. Learn to accept it and you’ll probably live longer.
I still don’t understand this. The Raiders don’t play on Saturdays.
"UC Davis??? hahahahaha" - Aaron Rodgers
by atomsareenough on May 10, 2010 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m not sure whether I should go with the condescendingly sarcastic answer. But out of respect for you, my newfound friend, I will not.
Due to the vagaries of baseball scheduling, were Cal to play on a Saturday, then there could be no baseball there that week. Moreover, were Raiders to play on a Sunday, then there could be no baseball there that week. So, if Cal had two home games in September and the Raiders had two home games, if they weren’t both on the same weekend, then the As would be unable to play any games at home in the month of September.
Cal and the Raiders would have to schedule their games for the same weekend. Given that the NFL doesn’t schedule its season until right before, while college teams do it years in advance, it could prove problematic, because Cal might have to change things around just a few months before the season starts, which would be impossible to do.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
also, do the raiders practice during the season? if so, do they use the coliseum? if so, might they practice on a saturday?
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
Ah, see, it was that third paragraph that really filled in the blank for me. I know next to nothing about the vagaries of NFL scheduling, so I didn’t realize that this was the issue. I don’t see why the Raiders couldn’t just commit to working around some particular dates in September, or scheduling a Thursday game or something. Anyway, if it couldn’t be done, that makes a bit more sense. The $$ thing makes less sense; if they need money, wouldn’t they be more inclined to cut a deal rather than lose the Bears’ business to AT&T Park and the Giants?
Anyway, thanks for not using the default sarcasm shortcut. I don’t think anyone had ever made this angle explicit. Or else, I hadn’t read it.
"UC Davis??? hahahahaha" - Aaron Rodgers
by atomsareenough on May 10, 2010 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions
well, i think the money question is answered by assuming that al davis is involved, or oakland city officials, and that they aren’t savvy businesspeople, as they are already in danger of losing their stadium.
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
this
The Raiders got a fair bit of power when they returned, probably enough to scupper the deal or to make Cal think there was no point in trying to work anything (if they bothered at all in light of Twist’s issue)
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Translation
“Yes…[blah blah blah]”. :-)
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 11, 2010 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions
I’ve lived my entire life in the East Bay and I love Berkeley, Oakland, and every city in the area…but I still like SF. I just don’t see how one year about 30 minutes away from home is worth getting pissed about. Especially since the retrofit is so desperately needed.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
I don’t understand the people who throw a huge hissy fit without providing what their solution would have been. I mean at least some people say that Candlestick is their choice. Ok, fair enough, I disagree, but at least there is a choice there. I am not aware of any other realistic East Bay options out there.
CGB's Jimmy Carter
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on May 10, 2010 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Emery High School!
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Deer Valley High School!
I went there and our stadium is RAD!
But nobody would EVER go to antioch hahaha
Drew: 'Oh no.. That is certainly the meaty part alright, but it's not the thigh..."
Randy: "No... that bone is NOT connected to the thigh bone..."
www.fearthefin.com
Sidney Crosby is my Cousin
www.pensburgh.com
by SeanCrosby87 on May 11, 2010 7:40 AM PDT up reply actions
These are the same people that blamed Longshore for the economy collapse.
by Spazzy Mcgee on May 10, 2010 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
The Oakland Coliseum
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 10, 2010 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions
You can thank that rotting carcass in east oakland for making it impossible for us to play there. You do realize we represent the entire state, not just the East Bay.
California Football. At home in Strawberry Canyon since 1923.
by CaliforniaEternal on May 10, 2010 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions
You haven't seen 'a huge hissy fit'
I only wrote like 200 words. It’s like 1/100th the typing you put into your average DBD replies…
I sense defensive SF-lovers! I struck a nerve!! Poke poke!!!
East bay 4eva!!!
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 10, 2010 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions
And let me be clear....
I love TwistNHook. I’d grease him up and ride him like a BigBoy. But irrational smackdown is here if you want more…
Do not attempt to devalue my emotions! I can hate AT&T park if I want to! It’s just so not Cal…
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 10, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions
I forgot - you prefer no grease
But then I chafe.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 10, 2010 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions
this has been a popular opinion among students on facebook too. it’s like you guys think cal made this decision SPECIFICALLY to spite you! it sucks when you find out about the concept of other people, doesn’t it?
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
by GoldBlooded on May 10, 2010 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
So...after adding up Cal Students, plus Alum Season Ticket holders
The concept of ‘other people’ includes who? Who that I think has a more valuable opinion and should be kept happier? Who that is more loyal and comes out to support Cal athletics, and yells on defense? Who exactly are you talking about?
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 10, 2010 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions
the people who made it impossible for the coliseum to be a viable option. i think we can trust that cal is not pandering to anyone over anyone else, and that att is the best option available, as twist and i have been saying.
coliseum would have been cool, but obviously was not chosen for (a) good reason(s). my own personal theory is that the coliseum demanded way too much money, didnt want to share revenue (because it’s tanking), and had to schedule around more than two teams.
i want to see some evidence that shows me that att was chosen in order to spite cal fans before i take you seriously
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
fuckin magnets, how do they work?
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
by GoldBlooded on May 10, 2010 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
rec’d
"UC Davis??? hahahahaha" - Aaron Rodgers
by atomsareenough on May 10, 2010 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions
honk...sniffle...honk
Thank you Cali49a – obviously you care and are the only one who loves me and feels my pain.
Life is so cruel.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on May 10, 2010 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions
exposure!
I like the AT&T plan, not only for the many reasons listed above, but I think it’s great for exposure (it was on main espn.com page earlier today) as well as getting all those people in SF to perhaps go to a Cal game instead of going down south to watch the furd. I think we’ll get more games on national TV and future recruits may think of checking out Cal. A beautiful ballpark on the water with a shot of the golden gate bridge before every commercial break? Should be a positive at least on TV. Or they’ll get really turned off by all the fans on their cell phones… oh well…
Also, per espn, Larry Baer (Giant’s President) is a Cal grad, so I’m not that surprised we’re playing at AT&T!
by ucsdgoldenbear on May 10, 2010 1:46 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
I don’t think any non-Furd alums in SF actually trek all the way down to Palo Alto to watch the Furd. I’ve never even met anybody outside of Palo Alto who does that. They don’t exactly have a following.
i know a sizable group in SJ that drives to the farm for every home game…they may or may not be related to me
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
DONT FORGET!
You can actually see Memorial Stadium FROM the phonebooth…
I’m sure on several, if not all telecasts, they will aim a camera across the bay over to the stadium and mention how amazing it is going to be – RECRUITS! YAY!
Drew: 'Oh no.. That is certainly the meaty part alright, but it's not the thigh..."
Randy: "No... that bone is NOT connected to the thigh bone..."
www.fearthefin.com
Sidney Crosby is my Cousin
www.pensburgh.com
by SeanCrosby87 on May 11, 2010 7:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Quick Questions
Will the Coca Cola slide be open during home games?
Can I purchase a ticket to watch games while sitting in the left field glove?
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
1. yes
2. yes, i sell them. write out a personal check to me for $500, and dont forget your ladder!
Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!
1. Sah-Weeeeeeeeeeeeettttttt
2. If its anything like that bridge you sold me in Nevada I want no part of your ticket sales
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
The coca cola slide is sometimes open when the Giants are out of town
but given the number of injuries and lawsuits you might want to stay off.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions
WSU completed 3 game sweep of Cal this afternoon
boo.
"I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."- Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti
"What do I want you to do? What are you doing in the National League?"- John McGraw
"117 elements, and still no Stanfurdium"- carp (paraphrased)
by natteringnabob on May 10, 2010 10:03 PM PDT reply actions
Does this mean Cal Band Union Square rallies? Or maybe just somewhere on the Embarcadero would work.
A Cal band parade down from Embarcadero Plaza to ATT would be pretty sweet. But yeah, rallies in the City would be pretty sweet before games would be awesome.
A party boat from Jack London to ATT would be pretty sweet as well. Wonder if that’s going to be an option during the season….
I think they should get on the BART at Rockridge and blare all the fight songs through the trans-bay tube, just to announce to everyone that it is motherfucking game day and they are on the right train
"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"
BTW
“Close proximity” is a redundant phrase. Proximity implies closeness. Just sayin’!
"UC Davis??? hahahahaha" - Aaron Rodgers
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