San Francisco
Travel article for San Francisco
by Jami
Not yet registered
Read:
231 times
From:
Kreuzlingen
Age:
26-30
Travel time:
in November 10
4th Day of Jami's Western USA Travel Journal - SF 49ers vs. TB Buccaneers
November 21st, 2010
Football game San Francisco 49ers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
My friend had organized that we could see that Football game. If you ever get the chance to go to a Football game, just do it. Do not ask if the price is a little high - just go there. Even if you are not so much into sports - just go there. It is just a great show. The excitement already starts before the game. When you arrive at the parking lot (USD 30) choose one that is as close to the stadium as possible. If you choose a lot further away you can easily walk up to 40 minutes to the stadium. The stadium is at Candlestick Park. Although the freeway 101 which starts in the middle of San Francisco is the easiest way to go to Candlestick Park it is probably also one of the slowest because it seems that all people choose just the larger streets. So choose a smaller street (which is easy because of the checkerboard pattern of the streets).
When you arrive at the parking lot there will probably already tons of other people. They bring along grills and chips and beer - it is like a big party. I arrived approx. at 11.30 am. The game started at 1.15 pm. And I was not one of the first. The arena itself is just huge. Approx. 30,000 people fit into the stadium. At this game it was not completely sold out but I guess approx. three quarter were filled.
Before the game is a spectacular routine. First, the cheerleaders arrive (they are really pretty but not as athletic as College Football cheerleaders - so do not expect the same acrobatics you know from TV). Then, there is a drummers band. They make a lot of noise and play that the audience gets the beat. Then, there are people carrying the flags. And out of these flags came fireworks. Then cheerleaders and flag carriers posed. And the home team enters with a lot of fireworks and applause from the audience. They enter via a giant Football helmet. Then, the other team enters with a lot of "buhs". Finally, you have about a hundred people on the field and a lady starts to sing the American Anthem. Even if you are not American and don't like all that Patriotic stuff, you will be deeply moved. I had tears in my eyes - and I am not American and the Anthem doesn't mean anything to me. But it seemed that this lady was particularly good because a lot applauded already during the performance. Wow.
After that, the game started. Starting in the second quarter, the Buccaneers began to lead with a touch down (7 points). In the third quarter the Buccaneers achieved their second touch down (another 7 points). And in the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers made a third touch down. What happened then, was amazing. People left the arena. They just did not want to see their home team loosing. Just imagine, the price range of a seat is about USD70-220. And people do not watch the game until the end. Amazing. Another very interesting thing is marketing. I knew that there are a lot of commercials on American TV. What I did not know was that people at home do not miss anything because the game stops when people at home see a commercial. That is really funny when there are two teams standing on the field and doing nothing because they show a commercial on TV. The way back to the city took us quite long as you can imagine with 30,000 people all on the same road.
Gordon Biersch
After a Football game, one cannot just go home. And so we chose to go into a sports bar to watch the end of the other games. We chose Gordon Biersch. Gordon Biersch is a sports bar chain that is relatively bright compared to most sports bars. It has large and high halls. But their specialty is that they brew their beer according to the German Purity Law (i.e. only hops, malt, yeast and water may be used to brew the beer). I can really recommend the wheat beer. What is also special - is that they offer Kobe beef as a burger. One of my friends ordered the Kobe Burger and found it very delicious. I had a vegetarian Taco from the vegetarian menu. As one of my friends explained to me. "This is San Francisco. Of course, they have a vegetarian menu." So, if you are vegetarian or would like to enjoy a vegetarian meal, ask for the vegetarian menu. Gordon Biersch is at Embarcadero (directly at the waterfront) and Harrison street.
Football game San Francisco 49ers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
My friend had organized that we could see that Football game. If you ever get the chance to go to a Football game, just do it. Do not ask if the price is a little high - just go there. Even if you are not so much into sports - just go there. It is just a great show. The excitement already starts before the game. When you arrive at the parking lot (USD 30) choose one that is as close to the stadium as possible. If you choose a lot further away you can easily walk up to 40 minutes to the stadium. The stadium is at Candlestick Park. Although the freeway 101 which starts in the middle of San Francisco is the easiest way to go to Candlestick Park it is probably also one of the slowest because it seems that all people choose just the larger streets. So choose a smaller street (which is easy because of the checkerboard pattern of the streets).
When you arrive at the parking lot there will probably already tons of other people. They bring along grills and chips and beer - it is like a big party. I arrived approx. at 11.30 am. The game started at 1.15 pm. And I was not one of the first. The arena itself is just huge. Approx. 30,000 people fit into the stadium. At this game it was not completely sold out but I guess approx. three quarter were filled.
Before the game is a spectacular routine. First, the cheerleaders arrive (they are really pretty but not as athletic as College Football cheerleaders - so do not expect the same acrobatics you know from TV). Then, there is a drummers band. They make a lot of noise and play that the audience gets the beat. Then, there are people carrying the flags. And out of these flags came fireworks. Then cheerleaders and flag carriers posed. And the home team enters with a lot of fireworks and applause from the audience. They enter via a giant Football helmet. Then, the other team enters with a lot of "buhs". Finally, you have about a hundred people on the field and a lady starts to sing the American Anthem. Even if you are not American and don't like all that Patriotic stuff, you will be deeply moved. I had tears in my eyes - and I am not American and the Anthem doesn't mean anything to me. But it seemed that this lady was particularly good because a lot applauded already during the performance. Wow.
After that, the game started. Starting in the second quarter, the Buccaneers began to lead with a touch down (7 points). In the third quarter the Buccaneers achieved their second touch down (another 7 points). And in the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers made a third touch down. What happened then, was amazing. People left the arena. They just did not want to see their home team loosing. Just imagine, the price range of a seat is about USD70-220. And people do not watch the game until the end. Amazing. Another very interesting thing is marketing. I knew that there are a lot of commercials on American TV. What I did not know was that people at home do not miss anything because the game stops when people at home see a commercial. That is really funny when there are two teams standing on the field and doing nothing because they show a commercial on TV. The way back to the city took us quite long as you can imagine with 30,000 people all on the same road.
Gordon Biersch
After a Football game, one cannot just go home. And so we chose to go into a sports bar to watch the end of the other games. We chose Gordon Biersch. Gordon Biersch is a sports bar chain that is relatively bright compared to most sports bars. It has large and high halls. But their specialty is that they brew their beer according to the German Purity Law (i.e. only hops, malt, yeast and water may be used to brew the beer). I can really recommend the wheat beer. What is also special - is that they offer Kobe beef as a burger. One of my friends ordered the Kobe Burger and found it very delicious. I had a vegetarian Taco from the vegetarian menu. As one of my friends explained to me. "This is San Francisco. Of course, they have a vegetarian menu." So, if you are vegetarian or would like to enjoy a vegetarian meal, ask for the vegetarian menu. Gordon Biersch is at Embarcadero (directly at the waterfront) and Harrison street.
