The Cal Bears football team is like a group of vagrants for the 2011 season. Their home in Strawberry Canyon is under construction and the Bears have been relocated to AT&T Park across the bay. The problem is that they may need to find another home before the season even begins.
The Cal Bears are scheduled to play five games at the San Francisco Giants AT&T Park. A pair of those games could be in jeopardy if the Giants make the playoffs. An October 13th game against USC and an October 22nd game against Utah are threatened by potential home playoff games. The USC game is during the NLCS and the Utah game is scheduled during a potential World Series game.
As a Cal fan I find this situation extremely frustrating. If Cal has a signed contract to use the field, shouldn’t they be able to use the field? It doesn’t really make sense, unless there are Giants’ playoff clauses that force the Bears to move. Football games are not a dime a dozen like baseball games. It would take a lot of work, but creatively they should be able to find the time for both team’s games.
Furthermore, these are the two highest profile home games that Cal will have this season. It would be a great detriment if Cal is forced to make rushed scheduling changes that prevent fans from attending the games. Many people, me included, have purchased tickets to see the Bears in AT&T Park, and I want to get what I’m paying for. I don’t want to be given the run around and sent to Candlestick or the O.Co instead. Defeating the Trojans and the Utes would do wonders to raise the Bears national profile and home field advantage will be crucial to their performance. Getting fans to the game will help the Bears, but a late change of venue could jeopardize fan support and the team’s performance.
It seems very irresponsible for the Giants, and the Cal Bears to have this contract in place, when the location isn’t guaranteed. It’s doing a disservice to the Cal Bear fans, as AT&T is limited to only 45,000 people opposed to the 80,000 seats at Memorial Stadium. Many were turned away for tickets at AT&T and now, those who were able to buy tickets might be moved as well. I realize this is the Giants home field, but if they agreed to this contract, why aren’t the being held to it?
All feelings aside, a decision must be reached soon. The Giants are in the thick of the playoff race, and it could be the final week of September before AT&T’s availability is truly known. Someone will need to make the call where to have the Cal games. Hopefully a contingency plan is in place that will let the Bears play in AT&T.
This author has been a Cal Athletics fan for the past 10 years.
Source: Dave Bush, Two Cal Football home games might have to move, Bear Insider.com