Stanford Stadium Sports Fan Tips

Stanford Stadium is a venue in or near San Francisco that is most often used for Football

Directions to Stanford Stadium?

My advice, take Caltrain if possible if you're unfamiliar with the surface streets. Train stations are scattered along the peninsula from San Francisco to San Jose and the Palo Alto station is just a ten minute walk away.

Best giveaways at Stanford Stadium?

They give out towels and some tree memorabilia but other than that I am not aware of anything. Some of the booths give out shirts, hats, and posters for signing up for mail. 

Dealing with scalpers at Stanford Stadium?

There really aren't any scalpers since this is Palo Alto. If you do find one, you can be pretty sure you aren't getting scammed. Students usually try to sell extra tickets for pizza money.

Best food and drink at Stanford Stadium?

The Cardinal BBQ stand offers "humanely raised, antibiotics free" Niman Ranch Ribs ($12) and Rocky Junior Chicken Plate ($12). Both plates are served with potato salad and corn bread. Sidelines Gourmet Sausages serves jumbo sausages ($11) on a warm pretzel bun which include varieties like German Bratwurst (with apricot chutney or sauerkraut), Spicy Polish (with chili or sauerkraut) and Sweet & Spicy Italian (with grilled onions and peppers), look for the jumbo pretzels. Stadium Axe & Palm serves a variety of gourmet burgers. The Big Game ($12) is a 1/2 lb bison burger, The Axe ($9) is a 1/3 lb all beef patty, The Fountain Hopper ($9) is Alaskan salmon burger and the Farm Burger ($9) is a black bean burger. Also available is The Immortal ($10) which is chicken tenders served with waffle fries. Sweet potato fries are available for $6. Soft drinks in a commemorative plastic cup is $6 and bottled water is $5.

Stanford Stadium seating?

I like sitting by the student section because they have some hilarious chants and the band is freaking awesome. If not there, I would suggest sitting on the west side so you can stay out of the sun. It's clear that when designing the new stadium the viewing experience was a central concern. I haven't found a bad place to take in the game. One thing to consider is that the east stands look directly into the sun for late afternoon games while the other side of the stadium sits in the shade of the press and luxury boxes, I would say if you have options don't sit here.

Best bars near Stanford Stadium?

The Patio is a great place to go before or after the game. Lots of Stanford fans go there when the team is out of town as well. The Patio has an extensive menu and the quality is much better than your typical sports bar. They have a few domestics on tap, a cider and 3 or 4 craft beers to go along with a full bar and at least a dozen televisions showing college football from around the country. Rudy's Pub is a good option right next to the Caltrain Station. I prefer the layout of The Patio better but Rudy's has a better tap list and is very convenient next to the station. Dinner options in Palo Alto include: Pampas for steak, Tamarine for Vietnamese, Darbar for Indian, Garden Fresh for vegan, and Cafe Pro Bono for Italian.

Stores to hit up at Stanford Stadium?

There are really no stores to hit up inside the stadium. The Stanford bookstore is awesome though and you can find everything you could ever imagine in there.

Safety at Stanford Stadium?

Safety is fine at the game. There are police officers to kick out the occasional rowdy fan but the students are white collar fans and there really isn't any need to feel scared.

Artifacts to look for at Stanford Stadium?

One drawback in my eyes was a lack of historical significance. I'm a sucker for memorabilia or insignia representing important moments in the school's football history. They do have a some banners around honoring the former All-Americans from the program but I would prefer more acknowledgment of the team's success, particularly the successes of late.

Best restaurants near Stanford Stadium?

Palo Alto is close to San Francisco so you can go catch a Giants game, visit the Wharf, Alcatraz, or eat at one of the million great restaurants there. You can also go hiking and tour the giant Redwoods.

Best insider tip for Stanford Stadium?

Make sure to watch the Stanford band. They make up songs and chants for each game that are unique to the team they are playing. They also dress up in the craziest gear known to man. They are top notch and you would definitely pay money to see them separately so make sure to pee during the end of the quarter so you can watch them at half-time.

What to expect from the Stanford Stadium crowd?

Stanford fans are much different than the rabid "football is life" fan bases of the South. That's not to say they are not passionate or intense, they just may have prioritized football in a different way. The student section is near the southwest corner of the end zone and are called the Red Zone. Again, this student section is made up of the unique students that attend the university. Many of them proudly wear "Nerd Nation" t-shirts. They are loud and provide a great advantage for the Cardinal. Undoubtedly, Stanford fans tend to carry the white collar label, particularly in comparison to their neighbors in San Jose and Berkeley.

Things to check out around Stanford Stadium?

Palo Alto is close to San Francisco so you can go catch a Giants game, visit the Wharf, Alcatraz, or eat at one of the million great restaurants there. You can also go hiking and tour the giant Redwoods.

Stanford Stadium parking?

My tip to save some dollars is to park at the Palo Alto mall and bus it in.

Traffic around Stanford Stadium?

Post-game traffic is not fun and since there is really only one way in and one way out I suggest you tour the campus or tailgate afterwards.