Coug fan seeks advice - Printable Version

Coug fan seeks advice - Printable Version

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Coug fan seeks advice - COUG - 10-21-2018

Looking forward to coming down Friday for the weekend. First visit, as I have a lot of respect for Stanford, primarily the reputation of the university, the campus and it's architecture. Very excited for Saturday's game.

Yes, there is a chance we could not be emotional ready, coming off the Oregon win, including a sensational GameDay experience, but this team is different. Minshew has made the difference this year. That said, you guys will be fresh and ready. Should be a great game.

Need your help with advice, etc.

How easy will it be to pickup a ticket outside the stadium?
What's the traffic going to be like after the game, heading to San Jose, or north to Oregon? Will traffic be congested getting out of Palo Alto or around Stanford Stadium after the game?
What are some key sites to see and visit on campus Saturday morning or afternoon?
Is there large place where everyone gathers for food and drinks, prior to kickoff?

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - stupac2 - 10-22-2018

(10-21-2018, 11:49 PM)COUG Wrote: How easy will it be to pickup a ticket outside the stadium?

Normally it's pretty easy, at least based on the number of scalpers I see, but this is homecoming so it might be a bit less so.

Quote:What's the traffic going to be like after the game, heading to San Jose, or north to Oregon? Will traffic be congested getting out of Palo Alto or around Stanford Stadium after the game?

It's the Bay Area. Unless you're driving between 10pm and 8am on a weekend the answer to "will there be traffic?" is "yes and it will be terrible." Hell the Bay Bridge might not even clear until well after 10. Getting out of Palo Alto is usually not terrible but I park well away from the standard lots, opting for 15 minutes of walking vs idling in my car.

Quote:What are some key sites to see and visit on campus Saturday morning or afternoon?
Is there large place where everyone gathers for food and drinks, prior to kickoff?

These are better answered by the FAQ: https://thecardboard.org/faq/

Although it doesn't really answer the latter question, which is "not really, at least not everyone." There's a "fan fest" with food trucks and some entertainment, and plenty of tailgating all throughout the near lots, but nothing that's the traditional "go to" for visitors.

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - BostonCard - 10-22-2018

(10-21-2018, 11:49 PM)COUG Wrote: Need your help with advice, etc.

How easy will it be to pickup a ticket outside the stadium?
What's the traffic going to be like after the game, heading to San Jose, or north to Oregon? Will traffic be congested getting out of Palo Alto or around Stanford Stadium after the game?
What are some key sites to see and visit on campus Saturday morning or afternoon?
Is there large place where everyone gathers for food and drinks, prior to kickoff?

Hi Coug, it should be possible to pick a ticket up outside the stadium, though there are not usually a ton of scalpers on site, and it would obviously not be a guarantee that you can sit in the Couger section (if you want). This Saturday will be homecoming, and the game is at 4 pm, and features a ranked opponent, so I expect the game to be as well attended as a non-rivalry (Cal, Notre Dame, USC) game will be. But it will not be rocking the way your stadium was on Saturday against Oregon.

After the game, there is usually some traffic to get to the freeway, but it is not unbearable. Your best bet would be to head west to 280 and take 280 south to San Jose. I usually park in the north side of Palm Drive (parking is also free there) and walk to the stadium. It is maybe a 15 minute walk in and out, but there is almost no traffic once you are already north of Palm Drive.

I think Terry has a guide to Stanford for visitors that will hopefully be linked. My personal favorite is the Cantor museum and Rodin sculpture garden and the new Anderson Collection of modern art, which features a great Jackson Pollock. It is also right next to the parking structure I usually park in. But there is a lot of stuff to do in and around campus pre-game.

Yes, there is a Stanford Fan fest outside the stadium that features food trucks, drinks, etc. before the game.

https://gostanford.com/sports/2013/4/17/208445471.aspx

Welcome to Stanford, enjoy the game, but go home disappointed at the outcome!

BC

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - Redrum - 10-22-2018

Well, Coug fan... until someone who knows more actual facts, I'll offer this.

I live far, far away but have been blessed to see four games this year. My impressions:

How easy will it be to pickup a ticket outside the stadium?
I wasn't interested but at each game there seemed to be people walking around kinda mumbling to passers-by that they had tickets to sell.

What's the traffic going to be like after the game, heading to San Jose, or north to Oregon? Will traffic be congested getting out of Palo Alto or around Stanford Stadium after the game? Yes, but that is more a function of being in one of the most car-dependent metro areas in the U.S. So the freeways will be congested...or flowing relatively free. You never know from morning rush hour to later in the evening. Getting off campus and to those freeways seemed organized & to take a reasonable time.

What are some key sites to see and visit on campus Saturday morning or afternoon? I saw in passing the place where, too many decades ago,I had my first full-carnal experience. It's now a sorority. How ironic is that?

Is there large place where everyone gathers for food and drinks, prior to kickoff? Whole place is large place. One of the great things about having a gigantic campus with urban forest and open areas and extensive (urban) forest cover. Lots of Stanford and opponent-de-jour tailgaters all over the place, existing in harmony. If you mean commercial establishments, someone else will have to chime in.

Hmmmmm. When I started writing this there were no replies displayed. Now two appear that are hours old. Oh, well.

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - French Rage - 10-22-2018

Traffic-wise it will probably be worse than usual due to homecoming. Not sure about the actual stadium crowd itself, but I've found trying to drive around campus on homecoming weekend can be a bit ridiculous. Stick to the bigger roads around the campus, avoid those in the campus.

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - Spiny_Norman - 10-22-2018

Coug,

Long-time CardBoarder Terry has a standard set of recommendations that he offers to visiting fans. I have copied here and updated for recent campus activity.

If you get to Palo Alto early and you're looking for a place to hang out, you might try the Old Pro, a sports bar in downtown Palo Alto. It probably will be crowded. The address is 541 Ramona St., Palo Alto -- http://www.oldpropa.com/

If you haven't been to Stanford before and you are driving, I would suggest entering campus by way of University Avenue. It takes you through downtown Palo Alto and into the campus. The name of the street changes from University Ave. to Palm Drive as you cross over El Camino Real. That gives you the "picture postcard" view of the campus as you enter.

Regarding game-day activities -- If you've never been to the Stanford campus, I would advise that you spend some time walking around the central campus area. It's possible to come to a football game, park, tailgate, and leave without ever seeing the central campus. That would be a mistake. Some spots to see on campus:

- The Quad. This is the academic heart of the campus. Spend some time wandering around. You will want to go into Memorial Church. Check out Memorial Court, which is at the main entrance to the Quad. Just outside the main entrance to the Quad is the Oval, a large grassy area that often is the site of frisbee, sunbathing, picnics, or whatever. The Quad is near the middle of this map -- https://campus-map.stanford.edu/

- White Plaza. This the crossroads of the campus and there's usually a lot of activity. The Bookstore has Stanford clothing and souvenirs. You can get something to eat at the Tresidder Union. Look in the bottom center part of the map.

- The Rodin Sculpture Garden at the Museum. (The Museum is formally known as the Cantor Center.) I think admission to the Museum is free if you want to go inside, but you don't have to enter the Museum to see the Rodin Garden. Part of the Cantor Arts Center.

- Hoover Tower. You won't have a problem finding it. Just look up. If the tower is open, you may want to ride up and see the campus from above.

- The Stanford Athletics Home of Champions in the Arrillaga Family Sports Center, 641 E. Campus Drive. This is the new hall of fame space which opened a year ago. Free admission. Lots of interactive displays. Lots of trophies too.

Two hours before kickoff, the Stanford team will walk from its locker room at Arrillaga Family Sports Center to the stadium. The Walk is a long-standing tradition. Fans will stand along the route and applaud the team as it walks past. The best place to see the Walk is in Chuck Taylor Grove, along Sam McDonald Mall. The Band plays in Chuck Taylor Grove immediately before the Walk.

While you're in Chuck Taylor Grove, take a look for the plaques honoring college football Hall of Famers Chuck Taylor (a Stanford player, coach, and athletic director) and Pop Warner (Stanford's 2nd winningest coach ever).

The Stanford "Fan Fest" is in the hammer throw area of Angell Field, on the opposite side of Sam McDonald Mall from Chuck Taylor Grove. You can get something to eat at the Fan Fest. I think they sell beer too. https://gostanford.com/sports/2013/4/17/208445471.aspx

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - cctop - 10-22-2018

Welcome Coug!

As others have mentioned, it's the annual Reunion weekend on campus so there's a lot happening between Thursday and Sunday.

Come early to hear lectures or to tour campus. The schedule for Saturday is here:

Stanford Reunion 2018 Saturday schedule

For a game ticket, instead of bothering with scalpers I'd suggest using StubHub. Especially as a single visitor, you can get the cheapest ticket that will get you in the gate then sit wherever you can find an empty seat which won't be hard. The ushers only check tickets for the sections on the 50 yard line.

Regarding traffic, the farther you park from the stadium the easier it will be to exit. If you're not tailgating, avoid the pay lots surrounding the stadium. Instead, park for free a little farther away such as around Cantor Museum. After the game it'll take 10-15 minutes to walk to your car then 15-30 minutes to get to Highway 280 depending on traffic. The app Waze will help you navigate post-game traffic.

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - Snorlax94 - 10-22-2018

How easy will it be to pickup a ticket outside the stadium?

As cctop suggested, you should use StubHub. Most resellers sell digital copies of their tickets online. When purchasing, you should choose to get mobile tickets, which you can display on your smart phone, which can be scanned in when you enter. Already, tickets on the WSU side of the field are going for less than face value. If you purchase your ticket Friday night/Saturday morning, you will get an even better deal. I've never seen tickets sell out (or increase in cost as the game approaches, the cost usually peaks about 2 weeks before kickoff) but if you see a low inventory, you can buy then. When you look at the seat map on StubHub (https://www.stubhub.com/stanford-cardinal-football-tickets-stanford-cardinal-football-stanford-stanford-stadium-10-27-2018/event/103307562/), FYI, the WSU band and normal fan area will be in the top left corner, sections 128/126. In any case, sections 128-138 are behind the WSU side of the field.

What's the traffic going to be like after the game, heading to San Jose, or north to Oregon? Will traffic be congested getting out of Palo Alto or around Stanford Stadium after the game?

As Stupac2 alludes to, the surprising traffic will not be the game traffic, it will be how much traffic there can be generally in the Bay Area at 8pm on a Saturday night. You should plan at least 1 hour before the GPS says you should get there. After the game, it could take 30-45 min just to get off campus due to game traffic (and poor management of game traffic). I suppose if you park .5-1 mile from the stadium, you could jog to your car and get out more quickly. But if you head particularly north to Oregon afterwards, you could hit traffic not from the game, but just from people doing their Saturday night things. Taking Hwy 280, I've never seen the highway impacted by game traffic, the delays are just in getting out of my parking lot and onto the highway.

Have a nice trip, except for the fact that I hope your team loses.

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - SamuelMcF - 10-22-2018

Hi COUG! (Very apt, and straightforward, username.) Just throwing in my 2 cents.

How easy will it be to pickup a ticket outside the stadium?
> There are definitely scalpers around but as a young alum I've always had my own student or alumni season tix. As others have said, try Stubhub. I personally also recommend SeatGeek.

What's the traffic going to be like after the game, heading to San Jose, or north to Oregon? Will traffic be congested getting out of Palo Alto or around Stanford Stadium after the game?
> I highly recommend parking a little ways away from the stadium and walking in. Campus traffic post-game can be rough. I'm not sure how much I agree with the others' sentiments that 8pm Saturday Bay Area traffic is usually bad, though. Maybe the bridges across the Bay are bad. Heading down to San Jose hasn't been too bad in my experience, and you can loop around the Bay that way if you want to head back up north to Oregon. Also avoid San Francisco if you can, since traffic through there is a given.

What are some key sites to see and visit on campus Saturday morning or afternoon?
> The campus is gorgeous, and there are many things to do and see. I'd recommend Hoover Tower, the Quad/Memorial Church, Cantor Arts Center and the Rodin Sculpture Garden, and the Stanford Mausoleum and nearby Cactus Garden walk.

Is there large place where everyone gathers for food and drinks, prior to kickoff?
> As others have said, the stadium is surrounded by shady wooded groves which fill up with many smaller tailgates. Walking around you're sure to find other Cougs.

Give us Max Borghi please.

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - COUG - 10-22-2018

(10-21-2018, 11:49 PM)COUG Wrote: Looking forward to coming down Friday for the weekend. First visit, as I have a lot of respect for Stanford, primarily the reputation of the university, the campus and it's architecture. Very excited for Saturday's game.

Yes, there is a chance we could not be emotional ready, coming off the Oregon win, including a sensational GameDay experience, but this team is different. Minshew has made the difference this year. That said, you guys will be fresh and ready. Should be a great game.

Need your help with advice, etc.

How easy will it be to pickup a ticket outside the stadium?
What's the traffic going to be like after the game, heading to San Jose, or north to Oregon? Will traffic be congested getting out of Palo Alto or around Stanford Stadium after the game?
What are some key sites to see and visit on campus Saturday morning or afternoon?
Is there large place where everyone gathers for food and drinks, prior to kickoff?

To all! Thank you so much for your insights, recommendations, and suggestions. I really appreciate it. Looking forward to seeing your amazing campus, and of course the game. That said, it will be interesting to see who wins the Pac-12 North. Thanks again!

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - CompSci87 - 10-23-2018

(10-22-2018, 09:05 AM)Spiny_Norman Wrote: Coug,

Long-time CardBoarder Terry has a standard set of recommendations that he offers to visiting fans. I have copied here and updated for recent campus activity.

...

I stole Terry's post for the FAQ earlier this year, https://thecardboard.org/faq/. If you notice anything that needs to be updated or added there, please let me know and I'll edit it.

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - 2006alum - 10-23-2018

Hey Coug, one other route idea: I don't know how bad traffic is these days around Palo Alto, but when I was a student a decade ago, I often drove north to Oregon, and I always took the Dumbarton Bridge/the 84 across to either 580 or 680 depending on traffic, and then went North from there. I always found the Dumbarton lighter on traffic and 580/680 much better than 880 given the East Bay snarl around Oakland and Berkeley. Just a thought if you want to get out of dodge ASAP after the game. I imagine that would be faster than either looping down around 237 or going up 101/280 through SF, especially on a Saturday night.

Enjoy campus!

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - CompSci87 - 10-23-2018

(10-22-2018, 09:44 PM)COUG Wrote:
(10-21-2018, 11:49 PM)COUG Wrote: Looking forward to coming down Friday for the weekend. First visit, as I have a lot of respect for Stanford, primarily the reputation of the university, the campus and it's architecture. Very excited for Saturday's game.

Yes, there is a chance we could not be emotional ready, coming off the Oregon win, including a sensational GameDay experience, but this team is different. Minshew has made the difference this year. That said, you guys will be fresh and ready. Should be a great game.

Need your help with advice, etc.

How easy will it be to pickup a ticket outside the stadium?
What's the traffic going to be like after the game, heading to San Jose, or north to Oregon? Will traffic be congested getting out of Palo Alto or around Stanford Stadium after the game?
What are some key sites to see and visit on campus Saturday morning or afternoon?
Is there large place where everyone gathers for food and drinks, prior to kickoff?

To all! Thank you so much for your insights, recommendations, and suggestions. I really appreciate it. Looking forward to seeing your amazing campus, and of course the game. That said, it will be interesting to see who wins the Pac-12 North. Thanks again!

I've merged some info from this thread and from an email that MT sent me into the FAQ. Feel free to send more or to poke me again to merge something I missed. Thanks, all!

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - magnus - 10-23-2018

(10-22-2018, 09:10 AM)cctop Wrote: As others have mentioned, it's the annual Reunion weekend on campus so there's a lot happening between Thursday and Sunday.

Come early to hear lectures or to tour campus. The schedule for Saturday is here:

Stanford Reunion 2018 Saturday schedule

Do you need a reunion day/all-access day pass to see the lectures and tours?

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - cctop - 10-24-2018

(10-23-2018, 11:07 PM)magnus Wrote: Do you need a reunion day/all-access day pass to see the lectures and tours?

Technically yes, but I've dropped into lectures on years that were not my own reunion, and nobody checked or cared. I'd say as long as the lecture hall isn't full then you're fine.

IMO the pass is needed mainly for events that have associated costs, i.e. food & drink. In five reunions the only time I've had anyone ask for my pass was for the class parties, which are full catered meals with open bar.

RE: Coug fan seeks advice - winflop - 10-25-2018

(10-23-2018, 05:12 AM)2006alum Wrote: Hey Coug, one other route idea: I don't know how bad traffic is these days around Palo Alto, but when I was a student a decade ago, I often drove north to Oregon, and I always took the Dumbarton Bridge/the 84 across to either 580 or 680 depending on traffic, and then went North from there. I always found the Dumbarton lighter on traffic and 580/680 much better than 880 given the East Bay snarl around Oakland and Berkeley. Just a thought if you want to get out of dodge ASAP after the game. I imagine that would be faster than either looping down around 237 or going up 101/280 through SF, especially on a Saturday night.

Enjoy campus!

I agree 100% with this advice I regularly go from mid-peninsula to Napa on weekends and we almost always take 92 and 580/680 up to Fairfield. I guess it depends on whether you're heading north on 101 or 5.