San Francisco Sporting Events

Not only does San Francisco boast an impressive list of professional sports teams, but also allows you to enjoy their events in (almost always) nice weather, year round.

Football

The SF Bay Area is home to two National Football League teams, the Oakland Raiders (based in Oakland in the East Bay) and the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers were the first major league professional sports team in the area, and have recently moved from Candlestick Park to the new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The 49ers were Super Bowl champions five times from 1981-’95, and division champions a total of 19 times. The Raiders were founded in 1960 and currently play at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Catch them now before they relocate to Los Vegas, Nevada starting in either 2019 or 2020.

Baseball

The San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s are San Francisco’s two major league baseball teams. Going to a Giants game at the beautiful AT&T Park is a once in a lifetime experience, not to mention the team has won eight World Series titles.

The Oakland A’s have won nine themselves, and are considering relocating from their current home stadium in Oakland to Cisco Field in San Jose. SF has been voted one of America’s Best Baseball Cities (it ranked #1 in 2012). In 1989, the two rival teams faced off in the World Series, the so-called “Battle of the Bay.” Oakland swept the Giants in a series that was prolonged because of the major earthquake that struck on the day Game 3 was scheduled.

Basketball

Oakland has been home to the Golden State Warriors since 1971.

Nicknamed the “Dubs,” the Warriors are arguably the best team in the league. The team has made it to eight NBA Finals and most recently won the NBA championship in 2015 when they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers. When the Warrior’s fan base gathers at the Oracle Arena, they are known for being one of the loudest and best crowds in the NBA.

Ice Hockey

The San Jose Sharks (based in San Jose), have won six division titles. The Sharks are also well known for their pre-game entrance, when the lights go down and a giant 17-foot shark mouth is slowly lowered from the rafters, opening to fog the fans and making way for the team to enter.

Get ready to lose your voice cheering and singing along to the Jaws theme song over the course of the game.

Stadiums

The Bay Area offers downright beautiful sporting venues (except for the Oakland Coliseum, which leaves a lot to be desired). Centrally located AT&T Park hosts the Giants and has a breathtaking view of the bay. It is easily accessed by SF public transportation, right off 2nd and King MUNI Station.

The 49ers Levis Stadium is about 40 miles south of San Francisco in Santa Clara, and the Raiders’ and As’ Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (most popularly termed the Oakland Coliseum), is right across the bridge in the East Bay. The neighboring Oracle arena in Oakland is where you’ll see Golden State Warrior games, and the Sharks play in the SAP Center in San Jose.

Where to Stay

If sporting events are your main reason to visit SF, staying right in the city might not make sense unless you’re going to see the Giants (and if you are, you can stay in any of SF’s many neighborhoods and easily access the stadium via public transit or taxi).

East Bay sports venues (Oakland Coliseum and Oracle Arena) are easily accessed via BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), so staying in San Francisco, Oakland or any of the neighboring towns is feasible. However, if your main destination is one of the area’s South Bay venues (SAP Center in San Jose or Levis Stadium in Santa Clara), staying in SF will result in somewhat of a trek.

Check out lodging in San Jose or Santa Clara or their environs. Driving from SF takes about an hour each way (or more, depending on traffic). You can also consider Caltrans for public transit.