Sunday, August 3, 2014

Levi's Stadium mostly thumbs up


Earthquakes goaltender Jon Busch, (18) dives for a shot on goal just wide,  as the San Jose Earthquakes take on the Seattle Sounders in Major League Soccer action at the first ever event held at the new home of the San Francisco 49ers Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Saturday August 2, 2014. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle
Earthquakes goaltender Jon Busch
San Mateo Mercury news/Daniel Brown, 8/2/14.  "Levi's Stadium opens to mostly thumbs up from fans." 

Fans arrive early as the San Jose Earthquakes prepare to take on the Seattle Sounders in Major League Soccer action at the first ever event held at the new home of the San Francisco 49ers Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Saturday August 2, 2014. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle
First game, 50,000 soccer fans entering Levi's stadium
The gist of many instant reviews? Great place, needs work. The light-rail trains ran behind schedule, the ushers sometimes pointed people the wrong direction, the bag policy proved confusing, and the concession prices caused shock. "Are they paying for this place with beer?" one fan wondered. 

But by the time fans made it to their seats, the good outweighed the bad -- by a long shot. They forgot the inconveniences in the splendor of the Bandera Bermuda turf grass.  Read article.

Related articles - NBC Bay Area/Staff,8/2/14, "Fans experience opening night at Levi's Stadium, have mixed reaction about traffic." "Some 50,000 soccer fans poured in for the first game at the $1.3 billion Levi's Stadium Saturday. The San Jose Earthquakes played the Seattle Sounders at 7:30 p.m. The game marked the first major ticketed event to take place at Levi's Stadium since it broke ground about two years ago. And while it was not the San Francisco 49ers taking the field, the Earthquakes were excited as they beat the Sounders 1-0." 

"Contra Costa Times/Mike Rosenberg, 8/2/14. "Getting to Levi's Stadium opening event OK for most, horrible for some."  

San Francisco Chronicle/Ann Killion, 8/2/14,"Traffic, tech glitches mar 1st event at new Levi's Stadium."  Note photographs by Michael Macor from this article:  entering stadium #3, and Earthquakes goal tender Jon Busch #4 of 27 terrific photographs. 

Reference -  Levi's Stadium News.com.   

Posted by Kathy Meeh

4 comments:

Steve Sinai said...

I went. 2 1/2 hours from my house to Levi's Stadium using Caltrain from Millbrae, and then very slow VTA light rail that made 12 stops between Mountain View and the stadium. About 2 hours back because VTA had buses that ran directly from the stadium to Caltrain. (From my house to Candlestick using BART and Muni typically took around 1 1/4 hour.)

Hopefully they'll have some kind of limited express/baby bullet trains between SF and Mountain View. VTA also needs to run express trains between Mountain View and the stadium, or have buses that run directly between the two stations.

Security lines took a long time to get through. Concession lines were all screwed up. Ordering took forever, and they kept running out of food. I'm sure they'll get these things fixed.

The stadium itself wasn't too distinctive or exciting. All in all, getting to the stadium, and the stadium experience itself, were disappointing.

At least the Quakes won.

Anonymous said...

The crowd for the soccer game was 2/3rds of full capacity. Wait for the first season game. Traffic will be a nightmare.

It took what about 30-45 minutes to drive over the hill to old Candlestick?

Anonymous said...

I drove and hit no traffic getting there and going back. Beautiful stadium. Healthy foods in concession stands? I don't know. Gagged on the way too healthy nachos.

Anonymous said...

$11 bucks for a crappy watered down cup of Budweiser!