The Venue- Stanford Stadium

by Jake Bertalotto on Aug 26, 2008 5:32 PM PDT in Football Comment 7 comments

To give you a taste of what gameday will feel like in Palo Alto, here's some brief information on Stanford Stadium. If you'll be attending the game, we'd love to hear your first hand account. Post it in the FanPost section if you feel so inclined, or send an e-mail to jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com so we can chat.

Stanford Stadium received a complete facelift after the 2005 season, in which the old stadium was torn to the ground and a new $100 million facility was erected on top of it-- all in the span of 42 months.

via www.cantoni.org

New Stanford Stadium is now considered one of the premier college football stadiums in the country, although it ranks 58th nationally in seating capacity at 50,033. In the second year of the new stadium's operation, the Cardinal averaged crowds of 39,332, the second lowest total in the Pac-10 (only Washington State had a lower average). Also, new Staford Stadium has never expereinced a sellout.

The lack of fans has promoted the Stanford athletic department to emply a "Gridiron Gurantee"-- an offer that give fans the option for their season ticket purchase to be refunded if they feel they didn't get their money's worth.

About the Gridiron gurantee, Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh said: "It's good motivation for us, but that motivation is already there. We definitely want to give fans their money's worth."

Old Stanford Stadium, built in 1921, enjoyed a rich 84 year history. The stadium had 85,500 seats, and was home to such historic events as Herbert Hoover's acceptance of the Republican presidential nomination in 1928, the 1985 Super Bowl and the 1994 World Cup. The new stadium has about 35,000 fewer seats but more modern facilities, of course. However, it still maintains much of the origional spirit.

The most notable change in the rennovation was the removal of the track. Fans are now positioned "eight lanes" close to the action, and as one fan said, "no longer need binoculars". The fense that previously separated fans in the front rows from the field is also gone as well.

If there is anything you'd like to add to this report, do so in the comment section!

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New Stanford Stadium is now considered one of the premier college football stadiums in the country.

I would be curious to know where you found this information, and who considers it any better than ‘acceptable’ on the scale of college football stadiums. Or is it your own opinion?

I’ll admit, I’ve only been to the new stadium once, and I certainly have a bias against all things ‘Furd, but my reaction to the new stadium was a pretty resounding ’meh’. It was new, it was clean, and yes, the seats were closer to the action (though given that the ‘action’ was Stanfurd football, that may not be a good thing), but that’s the best I could say for it. Entirely unremarkable.

So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!

by ragnarok on Aug 26, 2008 9:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Stanford Media Guide, page 18

Perhaps I worded that like it was my own opinion, but here it is out of the context:

The Cardinal play all of their home games in Stanford Stadium, which was completely renovated after the 2006 season and is now widely considered one of the premier, on-campus college football stadiums in the country.

--JB--

by Jake Bertalotto on Aug 26, 2008 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that quote

Means just that. It’s a great place to watch a football game, minus the fact that its Stanford football (who will be better this year).

by The VD Special on Aug 26, 2008 9:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's not as good as Memorial...which is my personal favorite college stadium, but...

…Stanford has a damn good stadium. It’s one of the best within a thousand miles of where it’s sitting. So…

by CV3000 on Aug 26, 2008 10:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Never been to a game at Memorial,

but went there to look around while I was in town for the Emerald Bowl. There were only about 5 people in the stadium and it seemed crowded. I can’t imagine what it would be like with 70,000ish, but it looked like a great, historic venue. Great setting as well. And you gotta like the tree people.

--JB--

by Jake Bertalotto on Aug 27, 2008 6:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's like going to a funeral

I’ve been to 2 games at Stanford and they were both like we were going to a funeral. The crowd going into the stadium is really quiet. There’s hardly any tailgating. I feel like I should be wearing a top hat and monocle instead of my beaver shirt. It’s what I imagine going to a game at Harvard is like. Not much fun and stuffy.

by Noghri_ViR on Aug 27, 2008 8:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs