Stanford Athletics :: Bay Area Family Fun for Everyone!

This article was written by me on behalf of Stanford Athletics. I received free tickets and promotional items. All opinions are 100% my own.

On Saturday we went on a bit of a road trip to watch the NCAA college football match-up of Stanford vs UCLA in Stanford, California. Not only was this a game between two rival top-20 teams, but it was also Stanford's reunion homecoming game and their band's anniversary too. Hence the reason that this was a sold out game! Stanford Athletics is known for their world class sporting events, so this was a real privilege to receive an invitation to attend this game.

Stanford Athletics has 36 varsity sports programs with 29 of those programs offering FREE admission, including gymnastics, softball, tennis, swimming and more. The Football, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball programs offer an affordable Family Flex pricing plan which is perfect for families. In fact, the Football Family Plan (season tickets for four) has sold out the last two years prior to the start of the season. 

Stanford University has a lot to proud of in regards to athletics. Stanford Athletics’ annual fund, the Buck/Cardinal Club, supports the operations of all 36 varsity sports and scholarship aid for more than 750 student-athletes. Not only do these student-athletes excel on the field, but in the classroom as well.

On Friday, November 8th at 7pm, Stanford Men’s Basketball will be hosting a Kids Free Night! All kids 14 and under may get into the men’s basketball game for free with advance registration. So parents, be sure to sign up your kids for this free event!

Now back to game day! Our day started out early and with a long drive to Stanford. It turned out to be a beautifully warm day, despite being mid-October in the Bay Area. Upon arrival we were greeted with t-shirts, necklaces, pom poms and bunch of goodies to help us cheer on the Cardinal throughout the day. We had the pleasure of hearing from Ron Lynn, who is the Director of Player Development for Stanford University Football. He gave us tips on who to watch and what to look for throughout the game. It was really neat to personally hear from someone with such expertise! Before entering the stadium, we enjoyed the end of Fan Fest, which is Stanford's free pre-game tailgate open to all ticket holders.

All geared up and ready for a fun day thanks to Stanford Athletics.

We were seated in the Family Plan areas which are on the ends of the field. Although I found it difficult to follow the game at times, it was neat to have the option of sitting rather close to the field. I've watched several football games on television over the years, so I think I'm just used visually watching football games from a different angle. It's still better in person.

 

At first Buddy was bored and asked several times when the game would be over. Football is completely new to him! As the game went on, he warmed up and started cheering with the crowd. By halftime we were all used to the atmosphere and having an absolute blast! The game ventured a little more to our end of the field too, so it was more exciting and easier to see what was going on during each play. The first touchdown by Stanford was right in front of us, so that was pretty sweet! Of course the fact that Stanford won added to the awesome high we felt as we left the stadium.

 I must confess. I'm not a fan of sports, usually. But, I looked at this opportunity as a fun new experience with my family. And it certainly was! In fact, I think football is growing on me a bit, and I'd definitely go again if given the opportunity. I highly recommend Stanford Athletics' sporting events as a fun family activity. It was an entire day of quality family time for us, and unique atmosphere that we experienced together. Thank you Stanford Athletics! We're very grateful for the memories we created that day. 

Looking for even more to do at Stanford University? 

The Stanford Visitor Center located at 295 Galvez Street (at the corner of Campus Drive and Galvez) welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year, providing campus tours and general university information. In addition to attending Stanford sporting events, the campus is a great place to explore with children. Some landmarks include Cantor Arts Center, Hoover Tower, Stanford Memorial Church, The Dish, and its various gardens. With so much to see we're hoping to make a weekend trip to Stanford next time.