[BrevinsBest]

I will say this. The 12:30 start times create a traffic nightmare. My guess is that most fans show up close to the same time for the earlier kickoffs and the roads just aren't able to handle the traffic. Homecoming may have added a bit more cars to the equation, but I remember it being a mess for other earlier kickoffs.

[BrevinsBest]

I will say this. The 12:30 start times create a traffic nightmare. My guess is that most fans show up close to the same time for the earlier kickoffs and the roads just aren't able to handle the traffic. Homecoming may have added a bit more cars to the equation, but I remember it being a mess for other earlier kickoffs.

[TreeFitty]

I have not much substantive to add here, but I just want to testify that Big Game 2 years ago with the late start was the most surreal tailgating experience in my life. I dont know if it was just the 7 extra hours of drinking, but the atmosphere around the stadium, especially in the evening, was like giant festival concert in the woods.

Imagine being in the woods in the dark, with BBQ fires everywhere, the cadences of the marching bands approaching, and everyone buzzed.

[TreeFitty]

I have not much substantive to add here, but I just want to testify that Big Game 2 years ago with the late start was the most surreal tailgating experience in my life. I dont know if it was just the 7 extra hours of drinking, but the atmosphere around the stadium, especially in the evening, was like giant festival concert in the woods.

Imagine being in the woods in the dark, with BBQ fires everywhere, the cadences of the marching bands approaching, and everyone buzzed.

[82lsju]

I will say this. The 12:30 start times create a traffic nightmare. My guess is that most fans show up close to the same time for the earlier kickoffs and the roads just aren't able to handle the traffic. Homecoming may have added a bit more cars to the equation, but I remember it being a mess for other earlier kickoffs.

we had no trouble with traffic when we arrived Saturday at 8:15am  ;)

[82lsju]

I will say this. The 12:30 start times create a traffic nightmare. My guess is that most fans show up close to the same time for the earlier kickoffs and the roads just aren't able to handle the traffic. Homecoming may have added a bit more cars to the equation, but I remember it being a mess for other earlier kickoffs.

we had no trouble with traffic when we arrived Saturday at 8:15am  ;)

[97fan]

[quote author=RobinsonsHeave link=topic=8651.msg72024#msg72024 date=1382396643]
I will say this. The 12:30 start times create a traffic nightmare. My guess is that most fans show up close to the same time for the earlier kickoffs and the roads just aren't able to handle the traffic. Homecoming may have added a bit more cars to the equation, but I remember it being a mess for other earlier kickoffs.

we had no trouble with traffic when we arrived Saturday at 8:15am  ;)
[/quote]

I've never understood why almost all Stanford football fans take 101 to the games. OK, if you're tailgating, then I understand. But if not, why not take 280?

I arrived on campus Saturday 45 minutes before kickoff, taking 280 to Page Mill Road; immediately found free parking on Stanford Avenue; enjoyed a very pleasant 20-minute walk to the stadium; exited campus the same way I entered; and encountered next to no traffic at all. This seems like a no-brainer unless you're tailgating, or you have physical limitations that prevent you from doing a little walking.

[97fan]

[quote author=RobinsonsHeave link=topic=8651.msg72024#msg72024 date=1382396643]
I will say this. The 12:30 start times create a traffic nightmare. My guess is that most fans show up close to the same time for the earlier kickoffs and the roads just aren't able to handle the traffic. Homecoming may have added a bit more cars to the equation, but I remember it being a mess for other earlier kickoffs.

we had no trouble with traffic when we arrived Saturday at 8:15am  ;)
[/quote]

I've never understood why almost all Stanford football fans take 101 to the games. OK, if you're tailgating, then I understand. But if not, why not take 280?

I arrived on campus Saturday 45 minutes before kickoff, taking 280 to Page Mill Road; immediately found free parking on Stanford Avenue; enjoyed a very pleasant 20-minute walk to the stadium; exited campus the same way I entered; and encountered next to no traffic at all. This seems like a no-brainer unless you're tailgating, or you have physical limitations that prevent you from doing a little walking.

[stupac2]

I've never understood why almost all Stanford football fans take 101 to the games. OK, if you're tailgating, then I understand. But if not, why not take 280?

Because I'm coming from the Oakland... I'm not sure why you'd expect everyone to be coming from the same place.

If the Bay Bridge weren't an ungodly clusterfuck at basically all hours of the day then taking 280 might work fine, but given that is, in fact, an ungodly clusterfuck at basically all hours of the day, I don't take 280. Dunbarton or San Mateo, depending on how everything is looking.

[stupac2]

I've never understood why almost all Stanford football fans take 101 to the games. OK, if you're tailgating, then I understand. But if not, why not take 280?

Because I'm coming from the Oakland... I'm not sure why you'd expect everyone to be coming from the same place.

If the Bay Bridge weren't an ungodly clusterfuck at basically all hours of the day then taking 280 might work fine, but given that is, in fact, an ungodly clusterfuck at basically all hours of the day, I don't take 280. Dunbarton or San Mateo, depending on how everything is looking.

[97fan]

[quote author=97fan link=topic=8651.msg72031#msg72031 date=1382398949]I've never understood why almost all Stanford football fans take 101 to the games. OK, if you're tailgating, then I understand. But if not, why not take 280?

Because I'm coming from the Oakland... I'm not sure why you'd expect everyone to be coming from the same place.

If the Bay Bridge weren't an ungodly clusterfuck at basically all hours of the day then taking 280 might work fine, but given that is, in fact, an ungodly clusterfuck at basically all hours of the day, I don't take 280. Dunbarton or San Mateo, depending on how everything is looking.
[/quote]

Maybe I should have been clearer. There are obviously lots of people for whom 101 will be the best option. But the ratio of people who take 280 versus those who take 101 seems out of whack. It seems like virtually no one takes 280.

[97fan]

[quote author=97fan link=topic=8651.msg72031#msg72031 date=1382398949]I've never understood why almost all Stanford football fans take 101 to the games. OK, if you're tailgating, then I understand. But if not, why not take 280?

Because I'm coming from the Oakland... I'm not sure why you'd expect everyone to be coming from the same place.

If the Bay Bridge weren't an ungodly clusterfuck at basically all hours of the day then taking 280 might work fine, but given that is, in fact, an ungodly clusterfuck at basically all hours of the day, I don't take 280. Dunbarton or San Mateo, depending on how everything is looking.
[/quote]

Maybe I should have been clearer. There are obviously lots of people for whom 101 will be the best option. But the ratio of people who take 280 versus those who take 101 seems out of whack. It seems like virtually no one takes 280.

[stupac2]

Maybe I should have been clearer. There are obviously lots of people for whom 101 will be the best option. But the ratio of people who take 280 versus those who take 101 seems out of whack. It seems like virtually no one takes 280.

That seems to be 280's thing. Probably why it's the only highway around here with reasonable traffic at most hours.

I took 280 to the Washington game because I was down in Santa Clara beforehand, and it was awesome. I wish 880 could be like that.

[stupac2]

Maybe I should have been clearer. There are obviously lots of people for whom 101 will be the best option. But the ratio of people who take 280 versus those who take 101 seems out of whack. It seems like virtually no one takes 280.

That seems to be 280's thing. Probably why it's the only highway around here with reasonable traffic at most hours.

I took 280 to the Washington game because I was down in Santa Clara beforehand, and it was awesome. I wish 880 could be like that.

[Leftcoast]

Yup, I take 280 and traffic basically disappears when you turn off of El Camino and get on Page Mill.    I usually park at Paly and don't even bother taking the various side routes that avoid El Camino.

Now when I lock my keys in the car, as I did on Saturday, going home is VERY difficult.  Whoops ....  We were running late and in the rush I left them in the trunk when grabbing my backpack.  :-[

[Leftcoast]

Yup, I take 280 and traffic basically disappears when you turn off of El Camino and get on Page Mill.    I usually park at Paly and don't even bother taking the various side routes that avoid El Camino.

Now when I lock my keys in the car, as I did on Saturday, going home is VERY difficult.  Whoops ....  We were running late and in the rush I left them in the trunk when grabbing my backpack.  :-[

[washingtonismoney]

Have no idea why the 280 is relatively disused:

1) there is less traffic
2) It is gorgeous scenery to drive through.

[washingtonismoney]

Have no idea why the 280 is relatively disused:

1) there is less traffic
2) It is gorgeous scenery to drive through.

[TreeWeird]

Just as you might avoid the Bay Bridge whenever possible, many of us who live in santa clara county avoid 101 whenever possible.  The only time I will ever take 101 anywhere unless absolutely necessary is very late at night.  If I were coming from east bay to a game, I would seriously consider taking SM bridge, skip 101 and continue to 280 to page mill and park south of the stadium.  I stuck around Lot 2 for about 30 minutes after game on Saturday and had no problem going south on ECR, page mill and 280 - which is typical of my experience going that route after games.

Another option many overlook is to take caltrain.  From the easy bay, you can take BART and transfer to/from Caltrain at Millbrae just across the platform (well, assuming BART is running, of course).  On those rare occasions I must get to a game near gametime, I love taking Caltrain from San Jose or Santa Clara - a 30 minute ride and the 2 or 3 trains prior to and after the game make a special stop at embarcadero.  They even allow alcohol on the trains so there is a bit of a tailgate atmosphere, especially for big game.  Of course the ride to SF and east bay would be longer, but maybe worth considering.

[TreeWeird]

Just as you might avoid the Bay Bridge whenever possible, many of us who live in santa clara county avoid 101 whenever possible.  The only time I will ever take 101 anywhere unless absolutely necessary is very late at night.  If I were coming from east bay to a game, I would seriously consider taking SM bridge, skip 101 and continue to 280 to page mill and park south of the stadium.  I stuck around Lot 2 for about 30 minutes after game on Saturday and had no problem going south on ECR, page mill and 280 - which is typical of my experience going that route after games.

Another option many overlook is to take caltrain.  From the easy bay, you can take BART and transfer to/from Caltrain at Millbrae just across the platform (well, assuming BART is running, of course).  On those rare occasions I must get to a game near gametime, I love taking Caltrain from San Jose or Santa Clara - a 30 minute ride and the 2 or 3 trains prior to and after the game make a special stop at embarcadero.  They even allow alcohol on the trains so there is a bit of a tailgate atmosphere, especially for big game.  Of course the ride to SF and east bay would be longer, but maybe worth considering.

[Farm93]

Homecoming is probably not going to create a fair set of comparables.  There are a lot of cars and a lot of people that normally are not in the mix.  Not just the alums, but also all of the support staff at the various tents.

FWIW - 280 and any road to campus from 280 will be much better than pushing up Embarcadero.  However, even the Embarcadero traffic is not THAT bad.  Other Pac-12 stadiums are a lot more problematic (ie, USC, UCLA and UW). 

[Farm93]

Homecoming is probably not going to create a fair set of comparables.  There are a lot of cars and a lot of people that normally are not in the mix.  Not just the alums, but also all of the support staff at the various tents.

FWIW - 280 and any road to campus from 280 will be much better than pushing up Embarcadero.  However, even the Embarcadero traffic is not THAT bad.  Other Pac-12 stadiums are a lot more problematic (ie, USC, UCLA and UW). 

[stupac2]

Yup, I take 280 and traffic basically disappears when you turn off of El Camino and get on Page Mill.    I usually park at Paly and don't even bother taking the various side routes that avoid El Camino.

Now when I lock my keys in the car, as I did on Saturday, going home is VERY difficult.  Whoops ....  We were running late and in the rush I left them in the trunk when grabbing my backpack.  :-[

...Hoff? I guess it's probably possible two people locked their keys in their car last game, but my buddy did it too.

[stupac2]

Yup, I take 280 and traffic basically disappears when you turn off of El Camino and get on Page Mill.    I usually park at Paly and don't even bother taking the various side routes that avoid El Camino.

Now when I lock my keys in the car, as I did on Saturday, going home is VERY difficult.  Whoops ....  We were running late and in the rush I left them in the trunk when grabbing my backpack.  :-[

...Hoff? I guess it's probably possible two people locked their keys in their car last game, but my buddy did it too.

[Leftcoast]

Hmmhhhhh .... Me and Hoff have something in common but my first name is Jeff!

Stupid move on my part, I picked up a buddy working off Page Mill who was delayed due to work.  We parked just at kick-off and in my rush to get to the game I locked the car, picked up my backpack and slammed the trunk door.  Unfortunately I'd dropped my keys in the trunk when putting on the backpack.

There was no way I was going to call AAA in the aftermath of a football game.  I'm guessing me and your friend weren't the only ones in a crowd of 60K who had car issues.

Luckily a friend gave us a ride to my buddy's car conveniently parked off Page Mill.  The next day I came back with our spare keys and picked up the car after a leisurely Sunday afternoon brunch with my wife in Palo Alto.

I hope Hoff's lockout story ended as happily.

[Leftcoast]

Hmmhhhhh .... Me and Hoff have something in common but my first name is Jeff!

Stupid move on my part, I picked up a buddy working off Page Mill who was delayed due to work.  We parked just at kick-off and in my rush to get to the game I locked the car, picked up my backpack and slammed the trunk door.  Unfortunately I'd dropped my keys in the trunk when putting on the backpack.

There was no way I was going to call AAA in the aftermath of a football game.  I'm guessing me and your friend weren't the only ones in a crowd of 60K who had car issues.

Luckily a friend gave us a ride to my buddy's car conveniently parked off Page Mill.  The next day I came back with our spare keys and picked up the car after a leisurely Sunday afternoon brunch with my wife in Palo Alto.

I hope Hoff's lockout story ended as happily.