Monday, April 2, 2001 is opening day for the National League West Division Champions San Francisco Giants. Last year more than 3.3 million fans sold out every home game at the spectacular new Pacific Bell Park, and this year promises to be just as popular. So how are you going to get to game?
Published: April, 2001
Monday, April 2, 2001 is opening day for the National League West Division Champions San Francisco Giants. Last year more than 3.3 million fans sold out every home game at the spectacular new Pacific Bell Park, and this year promises to be just as popular. So how are you going to get to game?
Take the ferry! Direct service to the China Basin Ferry Terminal at Pacific Ball Park is now available for most weekday nights and weekend games. The boat ride is a convenient and fun way to get to the waterfront park, especially when you avoid traffic, bridge tie-ups and parking hassles. While every stadium seat has beautiful views of San Francisco Bay, the striking panorama of the Bay Bridge and city lights at sunset from the deck of a high speed ferry will be the highlight of the game, win or lose.
The new ballpark is located at King and Third Streets, where parking is at a premium. The park has 40,800 seats and only 4,800 parking spaces. Of those, 3,500 have been pre-sold to season ticket holders. There are about 6,000 spaces in city-owned and private parking garages or on the street within a 15-minute walk of the ballpark. So before ground was broken at the park, a consortium of transit agencies, the MTC and San Francisco Giants staff was formed and after much work, fans now have more public transit options than any other ballpark in the country. Compare that to 3Com Park, which has 20,000 parking spaces but where nine out of every 10 fans came by car.
Last year the new ferry service was a hit with fans, with most boats selling out.
"We expect 50 percent of our fans will once again come to the park by some method other than a vehicle," said Alfonso Felder, the Giants’ transportation program manager.
It’s a good idea to buy transit tickets ahead of time at the Giants Dugout store at Pacific Bell Park or at hundreds of other outlets throughout the Bay Area. Tickets and transit information are available at www.transitinfo.org or call 817-1717 and select "7" for assistance planning your trip to the ballpark. Service is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours before both weeknight and weekend games.Larkspur
Golden Gate Transit’s Larkspur Ferry offers direct service to the ballpark for most games. For weekday day games, take the ferry from Larkspur Terminal (101 E. Sir Francis Drake, across from Larkspur Landing) to the Ferry Building, then walk or take Muni to the ballpark (free Muni transfers at terminal). The ferry back leaves 20 minutes after the end of the game. Tickets generally sell out two to three days in advance of most weekend games. Commuter and discount tickets will not be accepted for direct service to Pac Bell Park. Tickets may be purchased onboard vessel depending on space availability. The one-way fare is $5 with no discounts except for free passage for children under 5 under a separate "no-fare" ticket. If more than two children are traveling, tickets are $5 for each additional child. For information call (415) 925-5567. www.goldengate.orgSausalito, Tiburon
The Blue & Gold Fleet offers direct ferry service to the ballpark for most games. For weekday day games, take the ferry from downtown Sausalito (Humboldt and Anchor) and Tiburon (East end of Tiburon Blvd.) to the Ferry Building, then walk or take Muni to the ballpark (free Muni transfers at terminal). The ferry back leaves approximately 20 minutes after game ends. The one-way fare to Pacific Bell Park is $6.75 for adults, $3.25 children (5-11). Commuter and discount tickets will not be accepted for direct service to Pac Bell Park. Purchase tickets in advance by calling (415) 705-5555. http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/Alameda/Oakland
The Alameda/Oakland Ferry is offering direct service to the China Basin Ferry Terminal for weeknight games (with game start times at 7:15 and 7:35 p.m.) and for weekend games. The ferry will depart from Alameda’s Main Street Terminal, 2990 Main St., and Oakland’s Jack London Square dock. Parking is available adjacent to both terminals. Buy a ticket beforehand because without a prepaid ticket, there is a chance you won’t get on. The ferry back leaves 20 minutes after the end of the game or at 11:15 p.m., whichever comes first. Those without prepaid tickets are welcome to take the regular 5:50 p.m. boat into San Francisco and get to the park from there, but if the ferry is full after the game, they’ll have to find another way back to Jack London Square. The one-way fare is $4.75 for adults, $2 children (5-12) and $3 for Seniors (65+). Purchase tickets in advance by calling (415) 705-5555. www.eastbayferry.com
VallejoFor day games, take the Vallejo Baylink Ferry (495 Mare Island Way) to the Ferry Building, and walk or take Muni to the ballpark. The cost is $9.50 per adult, $4.50 for children and seniors plus $2 if you take the shuttle. Capacity will be severely limited on weekend Baylink departures from Vallejo. All ticket holders are accommodated on a first come, first served basis. For weekday day games capacity is generally available on mid-morning and afternoon ferry departures from Vallejo to San Francisco. However, Baylink is already over capacity on ferry and supplemental bus trips departing San Francisco between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Limited additional capacity is available on the 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ferry trips back to Vallejo. For night games, it is strongly recommended that game patrons use BART. If you need more information please call 1 (877)
64F-ERRY.http://www.baylinkferry.com/index.shtmlOther Ways to get to the Park
MUNITake the Muni Metro N line (or special K or M service on game days) or buses 15, 30, 42 and 45 directly to the ballpark — the Second and King Muni Metro station is right next to the ballpark. You can also take a Muni bus or Muni Metro to downtown and transfer to the Muni Ballpark Shuttle Bus (above ground at Second and Market streets), or walk to the ballpark.
BART
Take BART to the Montgomery Street station and transfer to a special San Francisco Muni’s ballpark shuttle bus, which departs above-ground at Second and Market streets. Or get off at the Embarcadero BART station and board a Muni Metro N line bus or a special K or M service on game days. You’ll get off at the Second and King station, which is adjacent to the ballpark. For the return trip, Muni will have buses waiting one block from the ballpark after the game.Caltrain
Caltrain offers service throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties and stops one block away from the ballpark at the Fourth and King Streets station. Call (800) 660-4287 for schedule information.
Bicycle
BART, the ferries and most of the buses will allow bicycles on board. Check with the appropriate agency for policies, as they do put limits on bicycles during commute hours. Once you are downtown, it is a short ride to the park using bike lanes along Embarcadero Street. The park has a 300-space, secured bike parking area across the Lefty O’Doul Bridge an across from the ballpark.
Ferry Tickets On Sale Monday, March 12 at 9 am
TICKETS FOR DIRECT FERRY SERVICE LARKSPUR & PAC BELL PARK
Tickets for direct ferry service between Larkspur & Pac Bell Park go on sale Monday, March 12 at 9am.ONE-WAY DIRECT SERVICE TICKETS
One-way direct service tickets are $5 for 6 years of age and up. Children 5 and under FREE when accompanied by adult paying direct service fare with a limit of two children per adult. If more than two children are travelling, tickets are $5 for each additional child. Children must have a special "No Fare" ticket to board. No other discounts apply. Only direct service Larkspur/Pac Bell Park tickets will be accepted for boarding direct service ferries. Regular Larkspur Ferry service tickets will NOT be accepted.PURCHASE TICKETS
» Tickets generally sell out two to three days in advance of most weekend games.
» To purchase tickets right up to game day (if not sold out), it is recommended that they be purchased at the Larkspur or San Francisco Terminals
» Tickets are nonrefundable
» Tickets must be purchased for each leg of the trip they are sold as one-way tickets
» Tickets are good only for service to/from specified game and travel direction for which is it purchased
» Ferry departs 30 minutes after the last out. Be sure to have your pre-purchased return ferry ticket ready to board 20 minutes after the last out.
» Children qualifying for free travel must be ticketed with special "No Fare" tickets
» Will Call scroll down for details
Larkspur or San Francisco Ferry Terminals
Cash and local checks (up to $100) will be accepted. Credit cards are NOT acceptedLarkspur Terminal (101 E. Sir Francis Drake, Larkspur) Direct Service Ticket Purchase Hours are weekdays 9 am to 6 pm and weekends/holidays 9 am to 5 pm.San Francisco Terminal (behind San Francisco Ferry Bldg., foot of Market St.) Ticket Purchase Hours are weekdays: 8 am to 6 pm and weekends/holidays: 10:30 am to 6 pm.
www.tickets.com
For added customer convenience, with minimal service fees, purchase through www.tickets.com. Select "By Event" in the search field located the upper left of the home page, then type in "Golden Gate Ferry", select specific game and direction of travel. Tickets must be purchased for each leg of the tripthey are sold as one-way tickets. When purchasing on-line, allow at least 9 days for the tickets to be processed and mailed to you.To Purchase By Telephone
Call tickets.com at 415-478-2277 or 707-546-2277. When purchasing over the phone, allow at least 9 days for the tickets to be processed and mailed to you.To Purchase at Tickets.Com Ticket Centers
Ticket centers provide walk-in service only. Most accept only cash, Visa and MasterCard. As of Feb. 1, 2001, Wherehouse outlets will no longer be selling tickets for Tickets.com Santa Rosa: Raley’s 1407 A Fulton Rd or Sausalito: Mollie Stone’s 100 Harbor Dr.Pac Bell Park
Giants Dugout Store 24 Willie Mays PlazaWill Call
To Purchase:"Will Call" tickets may be purchased NO LATER than 2 pm the day before the game AND only through www.tickets.com. "Will Call" tickets are NOT sold at Larkspur or San Francisco Terminals.To Pick Up:
Pick up for Larkspur to Pac Bell tickets will be held for pickup at Larkspur ONLY and can be picked up after 11 am on game day.
Pick up for Pac Bell to Larkspur will be held by the Golden Gate Ferry supervisor at the ballpark docking location and must be picked up immediately following the last out.
ParkingGames Served by Special Ferry Service
Parking at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal is FREE. Parking is available for most games on weekends and weekday evenings.Weekday Games With 7:15 Start Time Served by Special Ferry Service
Limited parking is available at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal when Special Golden Gate Ferry service departs at 6:20 pm for 7:15 pm games. Parking is also available at the Marin Airporter, when fans pick up a validated flyer at the Ferry Terminal. The flyer is good for a $2 discount off the regular $4 daily fee.Weekday Games NOT Served by Special Ferry Service (10 specific weekday games with start times of 12:35 pm, 1:05 pm and 5:05 pm, indicated in blue on the Pac Bell Park Ferry Schedule)
