TTess

We're season ticket holders for the UCLA Bruin football games. There's nothing better than sitting on the shady side of the Rose Bowl watching the Bruins play. They're a wonderful, wonderful team and it's such a fun experience.

http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/m-...tbl-sched.html

Go Bruins! ><

SusieQ78

I got into work this morning and I'm so grateful that so many people have responded to my post!

I think the College football sounds great - I was never implying it wasn't as good, I always assumed that the atmosphere would be fantastic. I just thought that possibly there would be more games to see, hence more availability.

Can anyone recommend best seating areas? I know that here in Oz at the Australian Football it is actually better to be up higher than close up down low as you really get a feel for the whole game.

GSTRDR

The best sections at the Rose Bowl are located in sections 4,5,18,19, rows 1 to 59.
I have been 2 Super Bowls here a couple of Rose Bowls. Its worth the extra money to be seated in these sections.
Home games in Sept for UCLA are: Tennessee(Sept-6th),and
Arizona(Sept-27th).
If you can I would see the Arizona game as its a Pac 10 rival.

Will

gmoney

SusieQ78, Just so you know there are many people in the US who actually prefer a good college football game (Go Gators) to pro football. The atmosphere and intensity in college football, I think, is far better than the pros. Every game matters and every game will be exciting, especially for the major conference teams. Hope you enjoy your experience whatever you do!

Birdie

Do not waste your money on professional football. Unless you are familiar with the game the difference in play between the pro games and the college games will be lost on you. Pro sports are expensive and lack the excitement and pagentry that goes along with college ball. Halftime with the college bands and dancers will be worth the price of admission. Go early and wander the tailgating. People will love to hear that you're visiting from Oz and attending your first football game.

TTess

We are UCLA alums and have season tix.

Review the stadium seating. You do not want to sit in Gates B-D. The sun will be in your eyes for hours. Sit on the other side of the stadium. Also, the lower 10 rows, give or take a couple, are not a good idea. Certain rows are a pain in the neck because you have people standing during the entire game and you can't rest. The Rose Bowl is such a wonderful place to see a game. If you need help getting tix, post and I'll be happy to

JJ5

After seeing baseball in about 15 to 20 American cities, I suggest going to see baseball in San Diego, myself.

And I disagree with the college vs pro football opinion on this thread. Not to me, and I go to all the college games I can, because I do think they are great fun. But to me it is not anything like a pro game. The most intense atmosphere I have experienced in Sports all around has been in football and at Chicago Bears/Green Bay Packer games.

It totally depends upon what college or where, and the college atmosphere is a college atmosphere, IMHO, and that is fine, but different- more alma materish and less urban regional, besides the skill levels being different.

SF is going to be much, much harder to get baseball tickets at then the others.

dmlove

SF is going to be much, much harder to get baseball tickets at then the others.

This year, that probably won't be true. They're going to suck big-time this year, and there are many more seats available for individual games. If you can get tickets, the stadium is fabulous.

JJ5

dmlove, compared to the others mentioned, the SF are still harder to get and more expensive.

china_cat

How did yo get the Philly-Sox tickets? even there we got shut out of the lottery!!

you know, interleague play only exists because all the owners want there chance for the visiting Red Sox and Yankees. they sell out road stadiums as well as home. Did you know the Red Sox are playing an exhibition game against the Dodgers in the LA Coliseum. And they have sold it out!! this is a FOOTBALL stadium that seats 100,000 people, and all the tickets are sold. They are going to put 15K SRO seats on sale. I think its going to set a record for largest crowd for a baseball game. And its an exhibition! (also, the proceeds are going to charity, so that's way cool).
(And it should be a real interesting game, as I understand it, in the rectangular football field, the left field wall is a mere 200 feet away, with a 60 foot high net. the right field wall is something like 500 feet away. )

I love the NFL, but I have to agree that for a tourist, someone who wasn't interested in a specific team or players, the college game might be more fun. And USC has such an exciting offense, I should think it would be great to see a game.

tchoiniere

I won the right to buy seats for 1 game and a friend got the right for a game so the 2 of us are going to each game.

That game in LA will be insane. I entered the lottery for tickets to it but got shut out.

I got shut for tickets to Fenway so I guess the Philly / Baltimore trips do make up for it.

sarge56

Sept. 20 Stanford plays San Jose State. Stanford has a beautiful campus.

And Stanford's band is a can't miss!!!

I also vote for the college game. You will have a wonderful, wonderful experience!

Paula

Parrothead

A couple more tips about the San Francisco area teams:

Baseball- both Oakland A's and SF Giants have access via public transportation, BART & Muni Metro

College Football- UC Berkeley has access via BART, no good public transit options for San Jose State or Stanford

Pro Football- SF 49ers no good public transit options but Oakland Raiders are accessible by BART

Ticket websites:
stubhub.com
craigslist.com
ebay.com

**Better prices are often available as it gets closer to game time.

DinPa

I agree with the others that say college football is much better. Pro's just don't have the same excitement. Hey, we have our tickets for Monday when the Red Sox come to Philly. For $5,000 you can have my two, but not a penny less.
dave

dmlove

Actually, on home-game days, you can take Cal-Train to Stanford station (it doesn't usually stop there, but it does on game days) and walk across the street to the stadium.

dmlove

I should add, while there is access to Cal-Berkeley's stadium via BART, it's a long walk, somewhat uphill from the BART station to the stadium. The Cal-Train station at Stanford is actually closer to Stanford Stadium than BART is to Cal's stadium.

Oh, and Stanford stadium itself (remodeled a couple of seasons ago) is gorgeous.