SportsQuest
All games

Week 13, Fri, Nov 27, Time TBA local

Pittsburgh Panthersat California Golden Bears

California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley. Fly into SFO.

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What we know about California Memorial Stadium

Where visiting fans stay

Checked at the source
  • Downtown Berkeley. Free BART shuttle from Downtown Berkeley BART, then a 5 to 10 minute walk. Hotel Shattuck Plaza and the Residence Inn (with the Study Hall rooftop lounge) sit by the BART station, with bars and food all around.
  • Claremont Resort, Berkeley Hills. Car or rideshare. Historic resort at 41 Tunnel Road with the Limewood bar; quieter and pricier.
  • Berkeley Marina. Car or rideshare. DoubleTree by Hilton at 200 Marina Blvd, on the water. RVs can't park in UC lots, but the Marina may have RV parking.
  • San Francisco. BART to Downtown Berkeley, then the free shuttle. Most hotel supply in the region and a direct BART line from SFO.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
Telegraph Avenue on the south side of campus has pubs and a sports bar, and Downtown Berkeley around the BART station has the hotels, beer bars and restaurants. Free game-day shuttles run from Downtown Berkeley BART to the stadium.

Getting in from the airport

From a specialist guide
OAK Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport is closest. BART connects straight from the terminal and runs to Downtown Berkeley.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
BART Shuttle to Stadium area, then a 5 to 10 minute walk. Northside Shuttle to Stadium area, then a 5 to 10 minute walk. Southside Shuttle to Stadium area, then a 5 to 10 minute walk. BART from the airport. Downtown Berkeley station, 2160 Shattuck Ave.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
The official pregame tailgate for every home game, on Memorial Glade next to Doe Library. Opens 3 hours before kickoff and is free for all fans, with food trucks, a full beer garden, bands, Oski, lawn games and big screens showing other games. Outside alcohol is not allowed in Oski's Village; buy drinks at the official beer garden. Tailgates are allowed in the BBQ Exclusion Zone around the stadium only with no grills, heat-producing appliances or open flames. Grills and other cooking appliances need a UC Berkeley Fire Prevention permit. Lower Hearst Structure (Level 2), Genetics Garage, Lower Sproul Garage and Bancroft Parking Structure are first come, first served for a $55 flat rate, card only. There is no RV parking in any UC lot.

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: One clear bag up to 12 x 12 x 6 inches, a one-gallon clear resealable bag, or a small clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. No backpacks, clear or not.
  • Cashless: The stadium is cashless. Ticket office, concessions and merchandise stands take Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
  • Re-entry: No re-entry, with no exceptions.

Touring the stadium

From a specialist guide
Ride the elevator 200 feet up the Campanile for views of campus, the hills, San Francisco and the Golden Gate. $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and visitors 17 and under.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
Free shuttles back to Downtown Berkeley BART run from the start of the fourth quarter to an hour after the game. Rideshare pickup after the game is at Dana Street and Bancroft Way. Driving out is slow: Piedmont Avenue, Gayley Road and Bancroft Way close 2 hours before kickoff.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Don't plan on street parking: spaces near the stadium need a City of Berkeley residential permit, and Stadium Rimway closes 4 hours before kickoff. Take BART.

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source

  • Raleigh's Pub

    2438 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704

    Telegraph Avenue pub that bills itself as a home to watch sports, with a patio that takes groups of 50 to 100.

    Away fans: sports pub with a big patio; mostly Cal fans, used to visitors.

  • Cali's Sports Bar & Kitchen

    2367 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704

    Sports bar and kitchen on Telegraph Avenue near campus.

    Away fans: sports bar close to the rideshare pickup at Bancroft and Dana.

  • Jupiter

    2181 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704

    Beer bar in an 1890s livery stable with a patio, fire pits and wood-fired pizza.

    Away fans: mixed crowd; easy stop on the way to or from the BART shuttle.

  • Berkeley Freehouse

    2700 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

    Bar near the UC Berkeley campus on Bancroft Way.

    Away fans: gastropub near the south edge of campus, close to the stadium walk.

Sidequests in Berkeley

In the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Tour65 points

    Up the Campanile

    Sather Tower's elevator rises 200 feet to a deck over campus, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate. A 61-bell carillon plays across campus every day.

    $. The day before

  2. Eat65 points

    Cheese Board pizza

    Cheese Board is worker-owned and bakes one vegetarian pizza a day. It helped start Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto.

    $. The day before

  3. Photo50 points

    Tightwad Hill view

    Fans have watched free games from this hillside above the stadium since 1923. The bay and its bridges sit behind the field.

    Free. 4 hours before kickoff

  4. Tailgate75 points

    Oski's Village on Memorial Glade

    Cal's official tailgate sits on Memorial Glade and costs nothing. Expect food trucks, a beer garden, live bands, Oski, and big screens.

    Free. 3 hours before kickoff

  5. Ritual75 points

    March to Victory

    About 2 hours before kickoff the team climbs the Haas Grand Staircase. They enter the stadium through Gate 1.

    Free. 2 hours before kickoff

Seats and views

Where each part of California Memorial Stadium sits, and what you see from it.

Main bowl, end zoneMain bowl, corner, home sideMain bowl, home sidelineMain bowl, corner, home sideMain bowl, end zoneMain bowl, corner, visitor sideMain bowl, visitor sidelineMain bowl, corner, visitor sideHomeVisitors
Main bowlLettered sections A to Z and AA to WW, with the Field Club, Stadium Club and University Club at midfield on the west sideTap any part of the stadium to see its view.