TOP 10 SBC SUPER STADIUMS
Super SUPER BOWL 50 to you! We thought we’d kickoff this epic event in our own backyard with some virtual tailgate talk. This, as you know, is the first Super Bowl at the new 49er home in Santa Clara, right in the heart of where we work and play. And, of course, it’s the 50th anniversary of the greatest game ever invented—quiet all you other “football” fans… you have the World, we have America!
We decided to celebrate this historic event with a huge high-five (or Dab, Quan, Superman, Lambeau Leap, or even the Super Bowl Shuffle) to all the community organizers, teams of professionals and fans of the legendary Bay Area who have landed this great LEVI’S STADIUM within inches of our daily grind. Thank you!
Okay, so here it is… SBC’s TOP 10 SUPER STADIUMS of all time! Sure, we’re biased to the Bay Area, but what did you expect? This is where we live, thrive and survive. This is where we huddle around some our greatest events of our lives: our first games as kids walking into the glory of battle into the shock of the crowd; growing up fast while rocking out hard at concerts, tailgating to oblivion, huddling up with our community in times of great drama while witnessing heroic feats one can only dream they saw—“The Catch”, “The Play” Oakland A’s Triple Play (3 Straight pennants, ‘72, ‘73, ‘74), Cain’s Perfect Game, “We Believe” in the Warriors”, Raider Nation, Bond’s bombers, the list goes on and on.
SBC’s TOP 10 SUPER STADIUMS
#1 AT&T PARK
WHY WE LOVE IT:
“DUH, because it’s our home team but nothing beats the City by the Bay. And that was my first date with Adam… Homerun ;)” — Samantha K, SBC
GREAT MOMENT IN STADIUM HISTORY:
Travis Ishikawa Wins the Pennant in 2014 to send the Giants to the World Series.
DID YOU KNOW:
AT&T was ranked by THRILL LIST in 2015 as the #1 MLB park in the world.
#2 SHARK TANK
WHY WE LOVE IT:
“There is nothing like the thrill of watching a hockey puck flying right at you behind the glass. Listening to horns go off the Shark’s score a goal. Lots of fun.” – Bob M. SBC
GREAT MOMENT IN STADIUM HISTORY:
The 47th National Hockey League All-Star Game was hosted at AT&T Park.
DID YOU KNOW:
Plans for a San Jose arena began in the 1980s, when a group of California citizens formed the group, Fund Arena Now (FAN).
#3 CANDLESTICK
WHY WE LOVE IT:
“The history. The way it sat on the bay and the spectators were exposed to the elements. The hardcore fans.” – Theron M., SBC
GREAT MOMENT IN STADIUM HISTORY:
The Beatles bid farewell on their final full concert on August 29, 1966 at Candlestick Park.
DID YOU KNOW:
The name, Candlestick Park, was the outcome of a name-the-park contest on March 3, 1959
#4 ORACLE ARENA
WHY WE LOVE IT:
“ROARacle, loud, fun fans” – Stephanie D., SBC
GREAT MOMENT IN STADIUM HISTORY:
On May 13, 2007, Oracle Arena had the largest turnout in the Golden State Warriors history with an attendance of 20,679, game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
DID YOU KNOW:
In 2000, Oracle Arena become the home of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, after moving from Cow Palace after 34 years.
#5 LEVI’S STADIUM (FEATURED STADIUM)
WHY WE LOVE IT:
“This stadium is beautiful! It’s a great addition to Silicon Valley, providing jobs and stimulating economic grow in our area. It has larger seats than some of the other stadiums and has every new amenity you can ask for in a stadium. It also has a 49ers Museum which is very interesting if you like the 49ers.” —Jeanine A, SBC
“Close to home, easy access from light rail. It will be better once there is a good football team playing there!”—Chirs B, SBC
GREAT MOMENT IN STADIUM HISTORY:
Making history—Home of SUPER BOWL 50!
DID YOU KNOW:
How Super Bowl 50 landed in little Santa Clara (Full Article)
ARCHITECTURAL SPECS
Broke Ground: April 19, 2012
Opened: July 17, 2014
Construction Cost: $1.2 billion
Architect: HNTB
Structural Engineer: Magnusson Klemencic Associates
INTERESTING FACTS
- Levi’s stadium is one of the largest buildings registered with the U.S. Green Building Council.
- The venue has 1.85 million square feet, seats approximately 68,500 and features 165 luxury suites and 8,500 club seats.
- The stadium features a green roof atop the suite tower on the west side of the stadium.
- The three solar bridges include hundreds of solar panels.
- The stadium self-consumes PV-electricity generated from its three NRG Energy solar-paneled pedestrian bridges and its solar-paneled roof deck—the NRG Solar Terrace.
- Levi’s Stadium is the first United States professional football stadium to have achieved LEED Gold certification.
- Levi’s Stadium features 40 gigabits per second of available bandwidth, 40 times more Internet bandwidth capacity than any known U.S. stadium
LANDMARK EVENTS
- Super Bowl 50
- Wrestlemania 31
- 2015 NHL Stadium Series
- International Champions Cup
- Carolina Panthers v. Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Kings v. San Jose Earthquakes
- FC Barcelona v. Manchester United
#6 STANFORD STADIUM
WHY WE LOVE IT:
“Worked there when I was a kid selling malts and sodas. Have many fond memories of sneaking in as well as watching the Stanford Band.”—Alex G, SBC
“So much history, hosting a Rose Bowl game, Super Bowl and even some Olympic games. I love going to cheer on the Cardinal whoever they play, fun for the family. I was also lucky to coach a half time show with the same football team.”—Sean T, SBC
GREAT MOMENT IN STADIUM HISTORY:
Stanford Stadium was the location of Herbert Hoover’s acceptance speech for his 1928 Republican Presidential nomination.
DID YOU KNOW:
Stanford Stadium has hosted Super Bowl XIX, the 1984 Summer Olympics, the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
#7 OAKLAND COLISEUM
WHY WE LOVE IT:
“RAIDERS!!!!” – Danielle D. SBC
GREAT MOMENT IN STADIUM HISTORY:
Led Zeppelin played their final North American concert at the Oakland Coliseum in 1977.
DID YOU KNOW:
The Oakland Coliseum was originally named the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, but is commonly referred to as the Oakland Coliseum, O.co for short.
#8 FENWAY PARK
WHY WE LOVE IT:
“I love the history of the park, and I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the Boston Red Sox because of the “curse of the Bambino”, and not winning a World Series for so many years.” – Kenny P., SBC
GREAT MOMENT IN STADIUM HISTORY:
Fenway Park has hosted 10 World Series, five of which the Boston Red Sox won.
DID YOU KNOW:
The first game at Fenway Park was played on April 20, 1912, between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Highlanders.
#9 AVAYA STADIUM
“This is my favorite stadium out of my 5 picks because it is consumer friendly. There’s a perfect view from every seat, no real waiting time for merchandise or food and they have a 70ft long bar.” – Kevin M., SBC
GREAT MOMENT IN STADIUM HISTORY:
The United States Women’s National Soccer team played its first send-off series match against the Republic of Ireland, winning with a score of 3–0.
DID YOU KNOW:
Avaya Stadium hosts the largest outdoor bar in North America.
#10 WRIGLEY FIELD
WHY WE LOVE IT:
“History, closeness in a residential setting. I used to walk to the games as a kid…The perfect early 1900’s ballpark.” – Mike O., SBC
GREAT MOMENT IN STADIUM HISTORY:
The Chicago Whales won the 1915 League Championship a year after the stadiums opening.
DID YOU KNOW:
Wrigley Field’s construction cost was on $250,000, the equivalent of $5.91 million in 2016.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Cowboy Stadium – Arlington TX
Dodger’s Stadium – Los Angeles CA
Los Angeles Coliseum – Los Angeles CA
Yankee Stadium – Bronx NY
San Jose Municipal – San Jose CA
Soldier Field – Chicago IL
Spartan Stadium – San Jose CA
Excel Center – St. Paul MN
Pepsi Center – Denver CO
Buckshaw Stadium – Santa Clara CA
Hope you dug our list. If not, GAME ON! Toss us your comments and thanks for playing.