Fans of major league sports in San Francisco are descending on the city this season to watch unbelievable displays of athleticism. Learn the best way to roll up to the stadium this season, and compare your options to get the most for your money.
Between all major league sports, San Francisco is home to over 130 home game match-ups each year—a microeconomy which generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the local community.
For the millions of fans and many high-profile individuals who attend these home games, San Francisco becomes a battleground. Most professional league games regularly exceed 20,000 attendees—no small crowd. Naturally, these people have to get to the stadium one way or another, which is where the trouble begins.
We must now explore one of San Francisco’s most notorious problems: crippling traffic.
Each year, San Francisco residents can expect to spend over 81 hours in stand-still traffic, with traffic moving at a rate of 4 minutes and 31 seconds per mile—just as bad, if not worse, than Los Angeles. This presents major barriers for those attending time-sensitive events, and transportation experts say it should be a significant consideration for those intending on visiting the area.
While large scale municipal development efforts have been launched to deal with the problem, city leadership cannot, unfortunately, work miracles. This has led private transportation companies to jockey for a place in this lucrative market, but what does that competition really mean for consumers?
Most of all, it means choice, and plenty of it. However, with choice comes confusion, which is what we are here today to clear up. What is the best way to get from the hotel door to the stadium gate in The Golden City? Let’s break it down.
San Francisco, like so many big cities, has its own city bike system. If you’ve staying within spitting distance of the stadium—or if you’re looking to burn off a few calories—then consider a bike rental. Not only will you avoid the traffic (provided your fellow travelers respect the bike lanes), but you’ll also be shrinking your carbon footprint in the process. Neat!
Between San Fran’s famous cable car system, municipal bus lines, and the light rail system, the city’s robust public transit system will get you where you need to go on time, albeit without a great deal of style.
Uber, Lyft, and—yes—everyone’s favorite autonomous car service, Waymo, have a massive presence in the area, but you might pay a bit more during peak hours, and you’ll need to schedule carefully to avoid the traffic. Fun fact: Uber and Lyft both got their start in the city. Call it a home field advantage!
Thanks to the looming presence of Silicon Valley, private limo companies are everywhere in the city, and will be more than happy to drop you off right at the stadium gates. Not only that, but with this option, you’ll be able to arrive in both comfort and style, enjoying game day while reclining and sipping some bubbly. Is it worth the extra cash? If you have it to spare, then absolutely!
With these options in mind, you should have no trouble getting to the stadium with time to spare. Whether you are a football fanatic or a B-ball buff, San Fran has it all for you.
This fall or winter, don’t stress: as long as you aren’t the one behind the wheel, it’s actually very easy to navigate the streets of San Francisco. Just don’t expect to get there on time if you do decide to drive; and don’t even think about trying to find parking downtown! When in doubt, high-end transportation with professional chauffeurs and priority drop-offs is always a sound option - you're unlikely to regret it.
