At Least The View Is Good
Drew drove up this weekend to join me, Hubert, and Andrew for the long-awaited and much hyped grand opening of the new stadium, and the experience exceeded all expectations but one.
Let's start with the stadium itself. The place is beautiful, a football palace. The landscaping was still settling in, but that’s understandable given the tight schedule. The concessions and concourses were much improved. It’s actually a pleasure to walk around the stadium and enjoy the sights. Nothing like fighting through the narrow mineshafts of the Ol’ Lady.
Drew heads into one of the many tunnels leading to the lower concourse
The view from the lower East concourse
The view from the upper South concourse
The arches in the upper North concourse
Looking out from the upper North concourse
The festivities were nice, though lacking in Stanford spirit. Felt like a Navy home game. No band due to suspension, those vandalous knuckleheads, which really detracted from the atmosphere. Not to mention the students weren't in school yet. And note to marketing staff: card stunts aren’t that great when there are empty seats. The Navy Leapfroggers were awesome though, and the jet flyover was thrilling, albeit brief.
The Navy Leapfroggers spin towards the stadium
A Navy Leapfrogger aims for the stadium and comes in for his landing
Another Leapfrogger brings in the Stanford flag
The Navy jet flyover during the national anthem
The patriotic halftime show with the Navy band playing God Bless America
I love my seats. I can’t speak for the other rows, because it looked like people were a little cramped, but we were able to stretch out our legs completely and prop them up on the rail, and when people in our row needed to get to their seats, we didn’t even have to stand up to let them pass. It’s like getting an exit row for every flight you ever take!
The sightlines are excellent. Close to the action, high enough to see the plays develop, completely unobstructed view of the field, and a great view of the parents’ section directly below us. There’s no way I’m moving to section 231 until row A is available.
The view from my seat
All smiles...the game must not have started yet
Andrew and Hubert enjoying some garlic fries and hotdogs...and look at that legroom!
Looking down on the parents' section below (Okwo's girlfriend is hot)
So what failed to exceed expectations? The most important part of the stadium, unfortunately, and that’s the team playing in it. Prognostications had us 2-1 at this point, but we are 0-3, and there’s no relief in sight. Our best players are injured, the rest of our guys are inexperienced or inept, or both, and our coach is a complete moron. Where art thou, Dr. Chow? (damn I’m poetic)
It was so bad that the highlight of the game was when someone in the adjacent section made a paper airplane out of a poster of Stanford players, and it flew all the way into the North endzone! It elicited a loud cheer, and deservedly so, because as I remarked at that moment, it was the first time our players had reached the endzone all night.
The only Cardinal touchdown of the night, by Anthony Kimble (if you don't count the paper airplane, of course)
Drew and Andrew look on in disgust after another stupid Walt Harris decision. Hubert with his signature "It's so bad I can't help but laugh" laugh
So in sum, best football venue in the Bay Area, worst football team. Bob Bowlsby, the challenge is before you. Let’s see what you got.
The one upside? Section 231, row A might open up sooner than expected.
Let's start with the stadium itself. The place is beautiful, a football palace. The landscaping was still settling in, but that’s understandable given the tight schedule. The concessions and concourses were much improved. It’s actually a pleasure to walk around the stadium and enjoy the sights. Nothing like fighting through the narrow mineshafts of the Ol’ Lady.
Drew heads into one of the many tunnels leading to the lower concourse
The view from the lower East concourse
The view from the upper South concourse
The arches in the upper North concourse
Looking out from the upper North concourse
The festivities were nice, though lacking in Stanford spirit. Felt like a Navy home game. No band due to suspension, those vandalous knuckleheads, which really detracted from the atmosphere. Not to mention the students weren't in school yet. And note to marketing staff: card stunts aren’t that great when there are empty seats. The Navy Leapfroggers were awesome though, and the jet flyover was thrilling, albeit brief.
The Navy Leapfroggers spin towards the stadium
A Navy Leapfrogger aims for the stadium and comes in for his landing
Another Leapfrogger brings in the Stanford flag
The Navy jet flyover during the national anthem
The patriotic halftime show with the Navy band playing God Bless America
I love my seats. I can’t speak for the other rows, because it looked like people were a little cramped, but we were able to stretch out our legs completely and prop them up on the rail, and when people in our row needed to get to their seats, we didn’t even have to stand up to let them pass. It’s like getting an exit row for every flight you ever take!
The sightlines are excellent. Close to the action, high enough to see the plays develop, completely unobstructed view of the field, and a great view of the parents’ section directly below us. There’s no way I’m moving to section 231 until row A is available.
The view from my seat
All smiles...the game must not have started yet
Andrew and Hubert enjoying some garlic fries and hotdogs...and look at that legroom!
Looking down on the parents' section below (Okwo's girlfriend is hot)
So what failed to exceed expectations? The most important part of the stadium, unfortunately, and that’s the team playing in it. Prognostications had us 2-1 at this point, but we are 0-3, and there’s no relief in sight. Our best players are injured, the rest of our guys are inexperienced or inept, or both, and our coach is a complete moron. Where art thou, Dr. Chow? (damn I’m poetic)
It was so bad that the highlight of the game was when someone in the adjacent section made a paper airplane out of a poster of Stanford players, and it flew all the way into the North endzone! It elicited a loud cheer, and deservedly so, because as I remarked at that moment, it was the first time our players had reached the endzone all night.
The only Cardinal touchdown of the night, by Anthony Kimble (if you don't count the paper airplane, of course)
Drew and Andrew look on in disgust after another stupid Walt Harris decision. Hubert with his signature "It's so bad I can't help but laugh" laugh
So in sum, best football venue in the Bay Area, worst football team. Bob Bowlsby, the challenge is before you. Let’s see what you got.
The one upside? Section 231, row A might open up sooner than expected.
Photo Album
posted by Chang Kim at Monday, September 18, 2006
5 Comments:
now knowing that the bar is so low for college kickers, i'm going to make sure any future kids can kick a fg...
Let's coordinate. You teach your kids placekicking, and I'll teach mine punting.
I can't wait to see the stadium on Saturday! Perhaps the team will play better knowing that I'll be there this weekend. =)
i'm gonna teach my kids how to coach, because obviously the bar is even lower.
Ouch!
What would be interesting is having a contest to be coach for the week... how cool would that be?
Stadium looks awesome!
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