The big college football news yesterday was Cal announcing it will play its 2011 home football games at AT&T Park in San Francisco, home of the San Francisco Giants. My initial reaction was excitement as I’ve always wanted to go to the Emerald Bowl (particularly in 2008) to see what a football game is in San Francisco. As I thought about it further, however, I have a few concerns:
- Location
- While AT&T Park does have public transportation (BART, Ferry, etc.) available nearby its not quite as easy as the Oakland Coliseum particularly for a large contingent of students coming from Berkeley. Cal will provide buses for students (which works for UCLA & the Rose Bowl) but in my experience getting to the Oakland Coliseum is more convenient.
- AT&T Park is built for baseball
- I’ve never seen a football game at AT&T Park, but from a few comments on Twitter the setup has been a bit awkward at the Emerald Bowl. While it’s only one season, it seems that a venue that currently supports football would be better, although Candlestick Park & Oakland Coliseum have both had baseball teams play there as well.
- Capacity of AT&T Park is 45,000
- Cal’s average attendance for the 2009 season was about 59,000. The largest crowd was 71,799 for USC and smallest was 53,347 for Arizona. The 2011 schedule will be the same in terms of Pac-10 home and away matchups which means USC will play at AT&T Park. Cal also finished 6th in the Pac-10 and presumably would have larger crowds if they are in the hunt for a Pac-10 title or BCS berth. Athletic Director Sandy Barbour indicated most of the season ticket holders could be accommodated and visiting allotments would be reduced at AT&T Park but that is still a lot of fans that won’t be able to see the team play.
- AT&T Park might ruin the allure/excitement of a refurbished Memorial Stadium
- AT&T Park is a world class facility and one of the nicest venues in all of sports. My concern is that after playing a season at AT&T Park, the excitement and reaction to the newly refurbished Memorial Stadium will be lost. I’d equate it to a consumer trading in a Lexus for another Lexus, as opposed to a lesser name car for a Lexus. While they are both exciting, transitioning from a lesser quality to higher quality generally results in a more positive reaction from consumers.
My biggest concerns are the latter two. I recognize the biggest problem with the Oakland Coliseum is scheduling given the Oakland A’s and Oakland Raiders currently play there. Presumably it was too difficult to schedule a third team and Candlestick Park is even further away from Berkeley which presents problems as well. What are your thoughts on the partnership? What do you see as the biggest benefit, or biggest concern?
Disclaimer: I’m a Cal alum, who completed my MBA at ASU, and will be pursuing a PhD at the University of Oregon in the fall. As I told Jeff Tedford in the Phoenix airport last week, I’m a Cal Bear fan at heart. I love AT&T Park too so I am excited to see Cal play there but do have a few concerns. Giants president (and Cal alum) Larry Baer called it a “neighborly act” so I certainly wish Cal and AT&T Park the best in their partnership.
Avg. Cal Attendance in 2009: 55,103. In 2002, when the Chicago Bears played at the University of Illinois in Memorial Stadium, they ended up with a 4-12 record. After they posted a 13-3 record the year before. The traveling to and from the Stadium and playing in a different environment played a role in their dismal season. Hopefully the change of scenery doesn't hurt the Cal Bear's season.
While this may be harder for students, I think it makes it much easier for the rest of the Bay Area to get to a Cal game. If average attendance was 59k last year, then ticket prices may go through the roof if you combine the limited availability of tickets and more people wanting to go.
Just found your twitter & website, and ironically Cal sent another email today about seat selection at AT&T. There is a "preview" day on this Saturday at AT&T. I've went to the 2008 Emerald Bowl so I'm familiar with the setup for football at the World Champion Giants home. We had great Club Level seats for that game due to some connections, but being a newer season ticket holder for Golden Bear football I know we will be limited with seat selection come March 14 or later.____The only reason I'm excited about the season at AT&T is because Cal fans will have one season of REAL tailgating. I'm a San Diego State Aztec alum who grew up a Bear fan. At SDSU the tailgating is great: BBQ'ing, beer, pigskins in the air, the sound of the marching band, fraternity gatherings with alumni, etc etc etc. A REAL social experience before the game. Oh, as a guy with a bad back I am excited about having a seat back!____
I'm not excited about the smaller season ticket package that does not include the Fresno State game at the 'Stick, the high price to park, or the longer distance to the game for a guy coming from Sac/San Joaquin border. I'm not excited about the lack of a real "home field" advantage either.____And, gulp, I hate to admit it, but the renovations at CMS have a high standard to be reached. While attending the 2009 Big Game at 'Furd I was very very impressed with those renovations. I had been to probably a dozen games at the furd previously and the dorks with the tree did a damn good job.____And, will the 2011 season even matter? The team lost it's Junior RB Shane Vereen to the NFL Draft, and we have no QB. I looks like one the Old Blues will erase from their memories as soon as the last game is over.