I have been to several games at Stanford Stadium over the years and it has left no mark on me as a college football fan. It’s not bad or good. There is nothing special or even memorable about it. The venue is perfectly adequate, nothing more.
Please note, I’m only talking about the post-renovation Stanford Stadium that opened in 2006. The original facility was a complete dump. The fact it hosted both a Super Bowl and World Cup games is astonishing. It was worse than the present-day Oakland Coliseum.
Anyway, the Stanford Stadium general admission sections are located at the upper deck behind both endzones. It cost $25 for the games I went to, although I never had a desire to see the Cardinal play a popular team.
You are probably wondering why no one ever seems to be sitting in those sections when Stanford games are broadcast on TV. That’s because ticket enforcement is lax. You can maneuver around ushers fairly easily should you want to try and sneak down into the lower deck. Additionally, the entire upper deck is sit where you want for the most part.
Again, this will not be the case during seasons when Stanford is good or they are playing against a ranked opponent. Beyond that, sightlines are acceptable throughout most of the stadium. Everything is close to the action. There is nothing to complain about, really. Apart from the contrived antics of the Stanford band that is.
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From the outside, Stanford Stadium looks like a dirt hill but inside reveals a surprisingly modern concourse with vanilla food and drink offerings. There are a few vendors selling some Stanford merch if you want something to take home. However, you are better off grabbing a schedule poster or magnet which can usually be found on randomly placed tables throughout.
Getting here and driving around Palo Alto, in general, is a nightmare. The streets don’t support any volume of traffic let alone the crowd from a football game. Making your way back to the freeway takes forever.
There is a positive. Parking can be found at Palo Alto High School right across the street from the stadium for $20. This lot is also positioned in a way to get you out quickest after the game ends.
Stanford Stadium general admission review score: 6
I want to stress that this Stanford Stadium general admission review should not be viewed as unfavorable. If it sucked, I would not have attended so many games here. But it’s also not good in any way, shape or form. When you leave, you will likely forget about it almost immediately.
This is why spending money on anything besides general admission tickets is a waste. There is no reason not to go. But if you’re the type of person who visits stadiums for experiences or something memorable, you won’t find it here.
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