Well I have finally finished all the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA in the Bay Area. Now its time to venture from home and see what the other teams OUTSIDE the Bay Area are like.
My next place to cover now is the Souther California area and Norther California area. Their are two NBA team, two MLB teams, two NHL teams, and one NFL team. Don't want to give it all away now. But theirs a lot more down in Souther California. I can cover half of these in the winter and the other half in the summer. Most of them I can cover all together like the NBA teams and NHL teams since they play in the same stadium.
That will be my next mission and I will keep you guys updated!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Oakland Raiders - Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (NFL - 2)
Heading over the Bay Bridge and into Oakland. You can find the Raider Nation. I never been to an Oakland Raider game until the 2010 Season and I didn't even know what to expect. I always heard that their were shootings and their were always fights and that the fans were crazy and wild (which is what I like!) But after I went the Raider Nation gave me a new impression of this team.
The Oakland Raiders games are pretty fun. Its a little more on the boring side. Their are no player introductions which I was kind of sad cause I liked those and that always got me pumped up. It was hard for me to tell who is who on the field since I wasn't familiar with the Raiders players. I wished they had a player introduction in the beginning of the game. I learned that they don't do this because football is a team sport, so they feel that the they should be introduced as a team together and not individually. (Also the St. Louis Rams don't do this either) I understand where they are coming from, but from the people that have never seen a football game. It would be nice to know who is who.
Tickets here are pretty reasonable. Oakland Raider games are never sold out. (If they aren't sold out then they are blacked out meaning they don't show the game on television) The tickets I got were cheap. I sat on Mount Davis which was the third level of seating. Pretty high up but it was on the sideline and not in the end zone. It was hard to see who is who, but it was fun to see the game as a whole.
Food here is the same as what you get at the Oakland Athletics games. Soda, Beer, Hot Dogs, and Nachos are pretty popular here. Expensive like always but typical for sporting events. Getting to the stadium is easy. Same as getting to the Oakland Athletics games. Take BART to the Oakland Coliseum Station and walk across the BART ramp. It takes you right there. (If you haven't noticed by now, the Oakland Raiders and the Oakland Athletics share the same stadium, as of next year they will be the only stadium that shares a stadium with another pro team) Also tailgating here is really fun and exciting. Love the tailgates and food. Definitely get their early to get a good spot to tailgate.
Overall Oakland Raiders games are fun. The fans were nice to me. Unless your stupid enough to wear an opposing teams jersey. Then thats your fault and they would be very mean to you. But if you wear Raider gear, and your not a dick. The fans are usually pretty nice to you. Come out on a Sunday afternoon and hang out with the Raider Nation.
The Oakland Raiders games are pretty fun. Its a little more on the boring side. Their are no player introductions which I was kind of sad cause I liked those and that always got me pumped up. It was hard for me to tell who is who on the field since I wasn't familiar with the Raiders players. I wished they had a player introduction in the beginning of the game. I learned that they don't do this because football is a team sport, so they feel that the they should be introduced as a team together and not individually. (Also the St. Louis Rams don't do this either) I understand where they are coming from, but from the people that have never seen a football game. It would be nice to know who is who.
Tickets here are pretty reasonable. Oakland Raider games are never sold out. (If they aren't sold out then they are blacked out meaning they don't show the game on television) The tickets I got were cheap. I sat on Mount Davis which was the third level of seating. Pretty high up but it was on the sideline and not in the end zone. It was hard to see who is who, but it was fun to see the game as a whole.
Food here is the same as what you get at the Oakland Athletics games. Soda, Beer, Hot Dogs, and Nachos are pretty popular here. Expensive like always but typical for sporting events. Getting to the stadium is easy. Same as getting to the Oakland Athletics games. Take BART to the Oakland Coliseum Station and walk across the BART ramp. It takes you right there. (If you haven't noticed by now, the Oakland Raiders and the Oakland Athletics share the same stadium, as of next year they will be the only stadium that shares a stadium with another pro team) Also tailgating here is really fun and exciting. Love the tailgates and food. Definitely get their early to get a good spot to tailgate.
Overall Oakland Raiders games are fun. The fans were nice to me. Unless your stupid enough to wear an opposing teams jersey. Then thats your fault and they would be very mean to you. But if you wear Raider gear, and your not a dick. The fans are usually pretty nice to you. Come out on a Sunday afternoon and hang out with the Raider Nation.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
San Jose Sharks - HP Pavilion (NHL - 1)
I have to be honest, I never really got into hockey until last year. I was taken to my first San Jose Sharks game and I loved EVERY minute of it. Im still trying to understand the sport a little more and reading up on the rules. That is why I added the NHL to my sports tours cause I like hockey now. (And most hockey teams share an arena with their NBA team. So might as well right?)
Anyways, HP Pavilion is a NICE arena. I never been there before to see anything, so my first time there was last year when I saw my first San Jose Sharks game. I went through the main entrance and their was a really nice white staircase there. It was really nice inside. Again their wasn't anything TOO extravagant there but it looked really nice. Inside the arena it was a bit cold (well they do play hockey on ice) but it warmed up when everyone got there and was cheering.
Tickets last year were actually pretty expensive. I paid about $30 for and upper level seat. It was in the corner and it was on the side where the Sharks play offense twice. Which was really nice. (Theirs 3 periods in hockey. So one side you see the offense plays twice, and on the other side you mainly see the defensive plays. Both good seats but I rather see offense than defense.) But during the playoffs tickets were as high as $100 a seat.
The food here is pretty mediocre. Kind of remind me of the food at Oracle Arena. Nothing to impressing. Just your standard soda, beer, hot dogs, and nachos. I usually don't eat food at sporting arenas unless its to die for.
Getting here is quite easy if your from San Francisco. I took the Caltrain there from Milbrae Caltrain Station. Cost me about $7 each way. Its an hour away. The thing I didn't like was that the last train left the station like 10 minutes after the game ended. I had to like run to catch the train. I also heard some people missed it and that was the last train. It sucks if you miss it so I wish Caltrain stayed out longer for the Sharks fans. I also know VTA goes there too but Im not too familiar with San Jose Public Transit System. But I know the Caltrain Station is across the street.
Fans here are AWESOME. Every time they score a goal, EVERYONE literally jumps up and sings the tune they played (forgot the name but it was really catchy) everyone cheered and it was in UNISON! They have a GREAT fan base. The San Jose Sharks games are usually sold out. When I went it was really packed on a weeknight. So everyone in the Bay Area should check one game out!
Anyways, HP Pavilion is a NICE arena. I never been there before to see anything, so my first time there was last year when I saw my first San Jose Sharks game. I went through the main entrance and their was a really nice white staircase there. It was really nice inside. Again their wasn't anything TOO extravagant there but it looked really nice. Inside the arena it was a bit cold (well they do play hockey on ice) but it warmed up when everyone got there and was cheering.
Tickets last year were actually pretty expensive. I paid about $30 for and upper level seat. It was in the corner and it was on the side where the Sharks play offense twice. Which was really nice. (Theirs 3 periods in hockey. So one side you see the offense plays twice, and on the other side you mainly see the defensive plays. Both good seats but I rather see offense than defense.) But during the playoffs tickets were as high as $100 a seat.
The food here is pretty mediocre. Kind of remind me of the food at Oracle Arena. Nothing to impressing. Just your standard soda, beer, hot dogs, and nachos. I usually don't eat food at sporting arenas unless its to die for.
Getting here is quite easy if your from San Francisco. I took the Caltrain there from Milbrae Caltrain Station. Cost me about $7 each way. Its an hour away. The thing I didn't like was that the last train left the station like 10 minutes after the game ended. I had to like run to catch the train. I also heard some people missed it and that was the last train. It sucks if you miss it so I wish Caltrain stayed out longer for the Sharks fans. I also know VTA goes there too but Im not too familiar with San Jose Public Transit System. But I know the Caltrain Station is across the street.
Fans here are AWESOME. Every time they score a goal, EVERYONE literally jumps up and sings the tune they played (forgot the name but it was really catchy) everyone cheered and it was in UNISON! They have a GREAT fan base. The San Jose Sharks games are usually sold out. When I went it was really packed on a weeknight. So everyone in the Bay Area should check one game out!
San Francisco 49ers - Candlestick Park (NFL - 1)
Starting off my NFL tour, my first one of course has to be my home town of the San Francisco 49ers. Candlestick Park has a lot of history in it. Due to the fact that the San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco 49ers both played here. Lots of history from the two teams.
This stadium is pretty old and run down. Candlestick Park isn't in the BEST neighborhood of San Francisco. So yes its pretty ghetto out there. Its located in the Bayview/Hunter Point area of San Francisco. Known for its ghetto community, many people don't like to venture out here. But on a typical Sunday afternoon when football season is around, it can get pretty hectic out there.
The park itself is old, so don't expect to see a Coca Cola slide or any of those big nice things you see at AT&T Park. Going to football games I noticed a few things, its just plain cause people are just to watch football. Theirs no fancy food or anything (well the ones in the Bay Area don't have anything fancy) but in general its just a good place to watch a game. Tickets are fairly expensive. Upper Level seating in the corner/end zone can run up to $70. If you check on Goldstar or other sites like that they got them for abut $45. Thats probably the CHEAPEST you can get. Of course you can always try craigslist to get a steal on tickets but if the Upper Level is about $50 each. I cant imagine how much the lower level would be.
Speaking of the food. Its just your average soda, nachos, hot dogs, and of course beer. Again everything is pretty dam expensive so be prepared to spend a little than normal if your going to eat there. Traffic here is CRAZY. their is never parking there. And if their is the main lot is ALWAYS full. Parking is about $40. Which is really expensive. When I go there I usually take BART to Balboa Park Bart Station and theirs a shuttle bus that cost $10 (roundtrip) that takes you from the BART station to Candlestick Park, right in front. Yea it gets packed, and its $10 but it way better than parking there. And theirs a bunch of cool drunk fans to talk to after the game. Thats if they win. If they lose, the bus is really quiet.
Fan base is pretty good here. They are nice and cool if your a 49ers fan. Be prepared to get booed at if your a fan of the opposing team. (Just like all sports) I see a few fights here. Nothing to drastic that went on the news or anything. But everyone should check it out if they live in the Bay Area!
This stadium is pretty old and run down. Candlestick Park isn't in the BEST neighborhood of San Francisco. So yes its pretty ghetto out there. Its located in the Bayview/Hunter Point area of San Francisco. Known for its ghetto community, many people don't like to venture out here. But on a typical Sunday afternoon when football season is around, it can get pretty hectic out there.
The park itself is old, so don't expect to see a Coca Cola slide or any of those big nice things you see at AT&T Park. Going to football games I noticed a few things, its just plain cause people are just to watch football. Theirs no fancy food or anything (well the ones in the Bay Area don't have anything fancy) but in general its just a good place to watch a game. Tickets are fairly expensive. Upper Level seating in the corner/end zone can run up to $70. If you check on Goldstar or other sites like that they got them for abut $45. Thats probably the CHEAPEST you can get. Of course you can always try craigslist to get a steal on tickets but if the Upper Level is about $50 each. I cant imagine how much the lower level would be.
Speaking of the food. Its just your average soda, nachos, hot dogs, and of course beer. Again everything is pretty dam expensive so be prepared to spend a little than normal if your going to eat there. Traffic here is CRAZY. their is never parking there. And if their is the main lot is ALWAYS full. Parking is about $40. Which is really expensive. When I go there I usually take BART to Balboa Park Bart Station and theirs a shuttle bus that cost $10 (roundtrip) that takes you from the BART station to Candlestick Park, right in front. Yea it gets packed, and its $10 but it way better than parking there. And theirs a bunch of cool drunk fans to talk to after the game. Thats if they win. If they lose, the bus is really quiet.
Fan base is pretty good here. They are nice and cool if your a 49ers fan. Be prepared to get booed at if your a fan of the opposing team. (Just like all sports) I see a few fights here. Nothing to drastic that went on the news or anything. But everyone should check it out if they live in the Bay Area!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Golden State Warriors - Oracle Arena (NBA - 1)
Continuing my sports tour. My first stop for the NBA is of course the team closest to home, Golden State Warriors. They play at Oracle Arena out in Oakland, CA right next to the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. I think Oracle Arena looks a lot nicer than the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. But its a nice venue for basketball.
Tickets for the Golden State Warriors are fairly cheap. They have a lower level (100's section) and an upper level (Club 200) its really not that hard to navigate around the Arena. Tickets on the upper level you can get for like $10, I have gotten lower level tickets for about $40 which is pretty decent.
The food here, is not that special. I think its the same company that provides the food for Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. Its pretty pricey as well. $6 for a BOTTLE of soda. But nevertheless we cannot forget where we are. The best thing they got there is the Ribs. Located on the lower level. Lines get really long but they are amazing. Expensive, but with nothing really located around the Arena to go out to eat before the game, your kind of stuck with this so might as well get something good. Go try them ribs.
Just like with the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, transportation is the best here. BART goes right to the Oracle Arena. No busses, all you got to do is take a small 3 minute walk around the Coliseum and head straight up to Oracle Arena. Parking here is the same price as the Coliseum. I advise you to take BART and spare the air.
Golden State Warriors games are pretty tame. Lots of kids go to the games and its very family oriented. I never seen anything obscure happen. (Well last season this guy jumped out of his seat and ran out onto the court. He got what he wanted, hit 10 seconds of fame. Then he got ejected from the arena and probably cited as well. It was quite funny) but aside from that its not a bad crowd. They never really sell out the games either. I guess its the team.
This next season thats coming up (2010 - 2011) they got a new logo, so everything looks different. The Arena looks different and so do the jerseys. They also got a whole bunch of new players through trades and drafts. And finally they got a new head coach. So things are looking up for the Golden State Warriors now. I hope they do will, and I will update this blog when I go to their game this coming year.
Tickets for the Golden State Warriors are fairly cheap. They have a lower level (100's section) and an upper level (Club 200) its really not that hard to navigate around the Arena. Tickets on the upper level you can get for like $10, I have gotten lower level tickets for about $40 which is pretty decent.
The food here, is not that special. I think its the same company that provides the food for Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. Its pretty pricey as well. $6 for a BOTTLE of soda. But nevertheless we cannot forget where we are. The best thing they got there is the Ribs. Located on the lower level. Lines get really long but they are amazing. Expensive, but with nothing really located around the Arena to go out to eat before the game, your kind of stuck with this so might as well get something good. Go try them ribs.
Just like with the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, transportation is the best here. BART goes right to the Oracle Arena. No busses, all you got to do is take a small 3 minute walk around the Coliseum and head straight up to Oracle Arena. Parking here is the same price as the Coliseum. I advise you to take BART and spare the air.
Golden State Warriors games are pretty tame. Lots of kids go to the games and its very family oriented. I never seen anything obscure happen. (Well last season this guy jumped out of his seat and ran out onto the court. He got what he wanted, hit 10 seconds of fame. Then he got ejected from the arena and probably cited as well. It was quite funny) but aside from that its not a bad crowd. They never really sell out the games either. I guess its the team.
This next season thats coming up (2010 - 2011) they got a new logo, so everything looks different. The Arena looks different and so do the jerseys. They also got a whole bunch of new players through trades and drafts. And finally they got a new head coach. So things are looking up for the Golden State Warriors now. I hope they do will, and I will update this blog when I go to their game this coming year.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Oakland Athletics - Oakland Alameda Coliseum (MLB - 2)
For my next ballpark on my ballpark tour, I didn't have to travel far. Just took Bart and I headed out to the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, home of the Oakland Athletics (or A's for short). From the outside, honestly its a really ugly looking ballpark. Oakland itself is an industrial city and horrible for sports, but this ballpark looks really run down. I have to give props to the East Bay though, they have some VERY VERY faithful fans.
This is one of the very few ballparks that share their ballpark with another team. Their NFL team, Oakland Raiders also play here. After 2012, the Oakland A's will be the ONLY MLB team that shares a ballpark with their NFL team. Sad but they really need a new ballpark.
Inside the ballpark its nothing amazing. Half of the ballpark was closed. The whole upper deck was blocked off with a tarp that says "Home of the Oakland Athletics" and some retired numbers on their. Its obvious that they couldnt sell out the whole stadium for the A's but it was intimate setting. Tickets were fairly cheap, I got the Plaza Level for about $10 a piece. Sometimes cheaper if you know where to look. It felt like it was really close compared to AT&T Park cause these seats would be considered "Club Level" So I guess thats an advantage of being an A's fan. Smaller park equals closer to the field. Even the lower level seats were going for about $50. Again at AT&T Park this would be considered Field Club, costing you at least a $100 a pop.
As I said half of the ballpark was closed. On the lower concourse their were a bunch of food stands and a couple A's stores to buy your A's gear. Upstairs their was a big old bar, which actually looked really nice with a view of the park and tables for dining services. As you walk around to the other side (around the outfield) its like a ghost town around there. Their was absolutely NO ONE there. Their was a "Club Level" there but I think that was intended for Raiders game cause it was Silver and Black. But the Ballpark was nearly empty.
The best thing about this ballpark for me is how its location is really close to the BART station. You just have to walk across the bridge that goes directly from bart to the Coliseum. No need to take a bus or anything. Parking here is fairly cheap as well, for the A's game it cost around $15 to park your car. AT&T Park was charging about $35 for parking. So even if you weren't so eco friendly you can still park here for a reasonable price.
The food here sucks, theirs like nothing here to eat. Theirs nothing really to look at here. But if you want to just watch some good old fashion baseball for cheap. Come out to the A's game!
This is one of the very few ballparks that share their ballpark with another team. Their NFL team, Oakland Raiders also play here. After 2012, the Oakland A's will be the ONLY MLB team that shares a ballpark with their NFL team. Sad but they really need a new ballpark.
Inside the ballpark its nothing amazing. Half of the ballpark was closed. The whole upper deck was blocked off with a tarp that says "Home of the Oakland Athletics" and some retired numbers on their. Its obvious that they couldnt sell out the whole stadium for the A's but it was intimate setting. Tickets were fairly cheap, I got the Plaza Level for about $10 a piece. Sometimes cheaper if you know where to look. It felt like it was really close compared to AT&T Park cause these seats would be considered "Club Level" So I guess thats an advantage of being an A's fan. Smaller park equals closer to the field. Even the lower level seats were going for about $50. Again at AT&T Park this would be considered Field Club, costing you at least a $100 a pop.
As I said half of the ballpark was closed. On the lower concourse their were a bunch of food stands and a couple A's stores to buy your A's gear. Upstairs their was a big old bar, which actually looked really nice with a view of the park and tables for dining services. As you walk around to the other side (around the outfield) its like a ghost town around there. Their was absolutely NO ONE there. Their was a "Club Level" there but I think that was intended for Raiders game cause it was Silver and Black. But the Ballpark was nearly empty.
The best thing about this ballpark for me is how its location is really close to the BART station. You just have to walk across the bridge that goes directly from bart to the Coliseum. No need to take a bus or anything. Parking here is fairly cheap as well, for the A's game it cost around $15 to park your car. AT&T Park was charging about $35 for parking. So even if you weren't so eco friendly you can still park here for a reasonable price.
The food here sucks, theirs like nothing here to eat. Theirs nothing really to look at here. But if you want to just watch some good old fashion baseball for cheap. Come out to the A's game!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
San Francisco Giants - AT&T Park (MLB - 1)
Starting off my MLB Ballpark Tour, I gotta start at home first so first up for the MLB is the San Francisco Giants. (My Favorite MLB team!) The Giants are a great team. 2010 season they are in first place and on their way to the playoffs. AT&T Park is beautiful, located right near San Francisco Bay in the China Basin. Right next to the Bay Bridge with a magnificent view. AT&T park itself has plenty of things to see and do. Great food is around. They got the huge Coca Cola slide there that you cannot miss and that you need to check out. The got a Build-A-Bear workshop right next to the slide. They even got a kids zone just for kids!
Tickets to the Giants game are pretty reasonable. Theirs no real bad seat in the house. Ive been here countless of times and even in the View Reserved you can have a decent view of the game. Bleacher sections get pretty roudy though! But thats where the true fans are. The food here is great. AT&T park is known for their Garlic Fries, so be sure to pick up an order. The Bratswurst are pretty good here as well, but as all sporting events are , its pricey.
Parking at AT&T Park is a bitch, this season it costs around $30 to park at the Stadium. (Just think of all the other things you can do with $30). Also in the parking lot area theirs a mini baseball field that was actually paid for and donated to by Barry Bonds himself. Very neat little mini park for the kids. Also you can find statues outside near the parking lot as well. But the best way to get here is on public transit. Its right off the Embacadero so their are always cabs around. I know the Pedicabs give free rides to afternoon games. Also the Muni T,J, and S (S - Shuttle only runs on game nights/days 2 hours before the game and after the game) BART goes to Pier 1 on the Embacadero, and you can take one of those Muni Lines there. Or if you take Caltrain, Caltrain Station is 2 blocks away! Definitely easier to get there than driving.
Overall this will always be my home team. As I venture out visiting other ballparks, I will find new things to do and explore. This is just 1 down and 29 more parks to go for the MLB. Will update this with new information as time goes on.
Tickets to the Giants game are pretty reasonable. Theirs no real bad seat in the house. Ive been here countless of times and even in the View Reserved you can have a decent view of the game. Bleacher sections get pretty roudy though! But thats where the true fans are. The food here is great. AT&T park is known for their Garlic Fries, so be sure to pick up an order. The Bratswurst are pretty good here as well, but as all sporting events are , its pricey.
Parking at AT&T Park is a bitch, this season it costs around $30 to park at the Stadium. (Just think of all the other things you can do with $30). Also in the parking lot area theirs a mini baseball field that was actually paid for and donated to by Barry Bonds himself. Very neat little mini park for the kids. Also you can find statues outside near the parking lot as well. But the best way to get here is on public transit. Its right off the Embacadero so their are always cabs around. I know the Pedicabs give free rides to afternoon games. Also the Muni T,J, and S (S - Shuttle only runs on game nights/days 2 hours before the game and after the game) BART goes to Pier 1 on the Embacadero, and you can take one of those Muni Lines there. Or if you take Caltrain, Caltrain Station is 2 blocks away! Definitely easier to get there than driving.
Overall this will always be my home team. As I venture out visiting other ballparks, I will find new things to do and explore. This is just 1 down and 29 more parks to go for the MLB. Will update this with new information as time goes on.
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