Fan's Guide To Municipal Stadium In San Jose - Home Of The San Jose Giants
Going to a professional baseball game in the Bay Area doesn't have to cost over $100 per person. There is another alternative in San Jose that offers good food, a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere and pretty good baseball at a very affordable price.
(credit: San Jose Giants Mascot)
San Jose Giants
Municipal Stadium
588 East Alma Avenue
San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 297-1435
www.milb.com
The San Jose Giants are the professional minor league franchise for the world champion San Francisco team. San Jose plays in the Class A California League, which includes minor league teams with ties to their own big league counterparts, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers. The San Jose Giants play in Municipal Stadium, their home for more than 70 years. It's located next to Kelley Park, the site of a local zoo, a historical exhibit and a Japanese friendship garden.
A typical minor league season runs from April through the first week of September, not including playoffs. One of the advantages of seeing a minor league game is that it not only includes some of the Giants' promising prospects, but fans can also see a regular major league player or two during the season as well. That's because when a player from the San Francisco club is coming back from an injury, he will often appear in a couple of San Jose's minor league games to regain his skills before heading north to rejoin his teammates. Check the local sports news in advance to see who might be playing on any given day or evening in San Jose.
(credit: Pedro Xing/Wikimedia Commons)
Admission And Parking
Going to a major league baseball game these days can be an enjoyable, even memorable event. But it can also be expensive. When you add up the cost of a ticket, food, beverage and parking, one day or night at a major league ballpark in Oakland or San Francisco can run well over $100 per person. Fortunately, the Bay Area offers baseball fans a much less expensive, but equally rewarding, experience less than an hour's drive away.
There's no such thing as a bad seat in San Jose. The stadium only holds a maximum of 5,700 people so baseball fans are close to the action no matter where they sit. Tickets range from $12 for general admission to $26 for a luxury box seat and there are discounts for children and seniors. Full season, half season and mini-plan ticket packages are also available.
There is plenty of parking available in lots next to the stadium. The cost is $10 per space which rises to $15 on specially designated fireworks nights. There are also several bus connections to the stadium from Santa Clara or Tamien Light Rail.
Turkey Mike's BBQ (credit: @TurkeyMikesBBQ)
Food
The San Jose Giants offer a surprising number of food choices, starting with Turkey Mike's BBQ. Located on the third base side of the stadium, Turkey Mike's serves an assortment of freshly grilled ribs and chicken, which fans can enjoy in an open picnic area right next to the field. The BBQ is so popular that the San Jose Giants even offer a group package that includes a meal at Turkey Mike's plus a ticket to the game for $24 per person.
There are other food options as well, including a newly-added noodle stand and a vendor serving ice cream sundaes. Concession stands throughout the venue also offer ballpark standards such as hot dogs, hamburgers, peanuts, popcorn and, of course, beer.
Joe Biagini pitches for the San Jose Giants (credit: CBS)
Events
There are a number of promotional events during the minor league season. These include a postgame fireworks show on three separate nights in July, a "Scout Night Campout" where kids get to watch a movie on stadium video board and sleep on the grass, and "Super Hero Night" where fans dressed as their favorite character receive two free future game tickets. After most of the day games, kids are invited to come down to the field and run the bases.
Each game also features various entertainment activities between innings during San Jose Giants events, and one of these is the ever-popular "beer batter." The Giants select one player from the opposing team and if that unfortunate soul strikes out, beer is sold at half-price for the next 15 minutes. The fans' reward turns into half-price apple juice after the seventh inning.
A minor league baseball game experience can be very different from the big league version, in scale and price. You may not always get to see future Hall of Fame players, but the fun, casual atmosphere and closer connection with the game on the field makes this a winning excursion all the way around.