I have great seats in Section H(25 yard line) right next to the ESP Field Section and just below the Stadium Club. I've had these seats for a few years now and have gotten to know some of the folks around me, including a fellow BIer. I love my Bears and it tears me up to see them lose to UDub (most of all), SC(next in line), Furd (3rd place) and most of all, BYU!! What a stinker of a game. Nevertheless, I'm seriously considering buying into ESP.

Forget the University Club, way too expensive for the six games a year I attend. I'd like to know about the experiences of those in the Stadium Club and Field Club and whether the goodies that accompany it are well worth it. Avoid issues of contribution or charitable/educational deductions to Cal. I'm on top of that. I want to know whether it's worth it or not?

If you're looking at it in terms of value for your money, the answer is certainly no. In my opinion, moving over to ESP only makes sense if you view it as a philanthropic exercise. If you're in Section H, you're paying $1,700 per ticket. I have Field Club A seats and those cost about $4,100 per ticket. If the question is whether I'm getting $2,400 in value (about $400 per game) for better seats (although yours aren't bad at all) and the right to pay $9 for a beer, then the answer is obvious. I get a better seat with a back to it, access to a club, and possibly slightly better parking. For $2,400 extra. Not exactly money well spent if you're doing it for the perks. The cheapest ESP seats are just over $2,700 per year and that doesn't change the comparison in any meaningful way. You don't get $1,000 in extra value. You'd be trading your seats for lower seats that are more central.

Stadium Club has free food and drinks but they aren't going to justify the extra expense either. In fact, the value discrepancy gets more extreme. That's why I decided against Stadium Club. I'd have to eat and drink enough to give myself type 2 diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver in order to make moving up make sense from a financial perspective. If I do move up, it'll be to increase my donation, not for the extra goodies.

Anyone who does ESP for the goodies needs his head examined. You do it because you want to support the program. The extra goodies are nice but they are nowhere close to making it a good value.

I have Field Club A seats on the 45 yard line. I would not advise you to buy into ESP, because the added value is nowhere near the added cost. The Field Club is comfortable and spacious, but the food selections are limited and significantly overpriced. The only advantage to you would be sitting closer to mid-field and on a chairback rather than on a bench back. You also have access to a bar, but that's hardly worth the extra cost for most people.

thanks guys. Good info.

I also have seats in H right next to the Stadium Club seats and am considering going ESP. After having sat in the Field Club seats with a friend and experiencing the Stadium Club venue once, I agree that it's only about supporting the program and getting a better seat location. I'm tall and slid around in the Field Club seats and quite frankly felt like I had better leg room in H. The drinks were way overpriced and the hot dogs were better in the outside locations. the hot dog was crammed in a little tiny bun so no room for condiments. That may have been a one time deal but not impressive. The Stadium Club experience was exactly what the other poster said. We felt we had to eat as much as possible to get the value and as it was an early game didn't even go to the bars. We also felt we'd be 300 lbs, become alcoholics and need a driver to get home. Still going to go and check out the options. The easy access and in and out privileges are nice.

If you factor in the required donations there's not a huge difference. I have 2 in H and 2 ADA in HH. Field Club A would be $800 more they tell me.

I have seats in Stadium Club. I like it, but obviously it isn't worth the difference. My son and I can eat and drink with the best of them, but not to the tune of several hundred dollars each per game! It is a philanthropic decision (at least it counts toward my basketball contribution as well), period. The university club (where I have sat for some games) is lousy IMO, because you're way too high up.

6bear6;842415678 said:

---

I have great seats in Section H(25 yard line) right next to the ESP Field Section and just below the Stadium Club. I've had these seats for a few years now and have gotten to know some of the folks around me, including a fellow BIer. I love my Bears and it tears me up to see them lose to UDub (most of all), SC(next in line), Furd (3rd place) and most of all, BYU!! What a stinker of a game. Nevertheless, I'm seriously considering buying into ESP.

Forget the University Club, way too expensive for the six games a year I attend. I'd like to know about the experiences of those in the Stadium Club and Field Club and whether the goodies that accompany it are well worth it. Avoid issues of contribution or charitable/educational deductions to Cal. I'm on top of that. I want to know whether it's worth it or not?

---

ESP has a charitable component, and its not intended to "pencil-out" with goodies. I suppose if we have Jimmy Carter inflation or the team starts winning championships, that could change due to the fixed price nature of the ESP program over 50 years, but its not the intent.

On a slightly different angle, I hate ESP because it caused a group of my long-time friends to split up our seat locations (and even our pre-game locations). I understand why it pretty much had to be done, but I'm still a tad bitter.

I agree with everyone that's ESP is really about being philanthropic but wanted to mention one other factor. You can pay for your ESP seats either up front or over a period of up to 30 years. However, you get tickets for up to 50 years (I believe it's 50 for University, 45 for Stadium and 40 for Field). Therefore, if you're young (or young at heart) at some point you get your tickets and parking without shelling out anything more on an annual basis. Of course, you've shelled out quite a bit at that point. As long as you've paid in full, you can also pass the tickets on for the duration (or someone can agree to pick up the ongoing obligation if not paid in full). ESP is also basically a gift promise, so if at any time you're unhappy with it or can't afford it for any reason, you can opt out and get other, less expensive seats. I do it to support Cal though and I rarely eat or drink at the Field Club given the prices.

UrsaMajor;842415807 said:

---

I have seats in Stadium Club. I like it, but obviously it isn't worth the difference. My son and I can eat and drink with the best of them, but not to the tune of several hundred dollars each per game! It is a philanthropic decision (at least it counts toward my basketball contribution as well), period. The university club (where I have sat for some games) is lousy IMO, because you're way too high up.

---

Agree with UrsaM. My Pepsi's are very expensive--popcorn average, Ben & Jerry's ok. No one has mentioned sitting down with friends to mull over the fortunes of Cal Athletics. That part is nice. University Club is beautiful (same food), but think SC seats are better for football.
Still miss the old Hall of Fame.

CRBear;842415703 said:

---

If you're looking at it in terms of value for your money, the answer is certainly no. In my opinion, moving over to ESP only makes sense if you view it as a philanthropic exercise. If you're in Section H, you're paying $1,700 per ticket. I have Field Club A seats and those cost about $4,100 per ticket. If the question is whether I'm getting $2,400 in value (about $400 per game) for better seats (although yours aren't bad at all) and the right to pay $9 for a beer, then the answer is obvious. I get a better seat with a back to it, access to a club, and possibly slightly better parking. For $2,400 extra. Not exactly money well spent if you're doing it for the perks. The cheapest ESP seats are just over $2,700 per year and that doesn't change the comparison in any meaningful way. You don't get $1,000 in extra value. You'd be trading your seats for lower seats that are more central.

Stadium Club has free food and drinks but they aren't going to justify the extra expense either. In fact, the value discrepancy gets more extreme. That's why I decided against Stadium Club. I'd have to eat and drink enough to give myself type 2 diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver in order to make moving up make sense from a financial perspective. If I do move up, it'll be to increase my donation, not for the extra goodies.

Anyone who does ESP for the goodies needs his head examined. You do it because you want to support the program. The extra goodies are nice but they are nowhere close to making it a good value.

---

Very good analysis. I would add only that if you're unsure about whether to get ESP, you should go on stubhub and get tickets for one game...for a couple of hundred bucks or so (depending on the game), you can see for yourself whether you'd like it. My guess is you could get a couple of FC seats next year for the Grambling game at a decent price.

Big C_Cal;842415991 said:

---

On a slightly different angle, I hate ESP because it caused a group of my long-time friends to split up our seat locations (and even our pre-game locations). I understand why it pretty much had to be done, but I'm still a tad bitter.

---

You have described the feelings of so many Cal people. After two years I still miss the camaraderie we felt in Section GG, Row 59. Generations of football friends now scattered to the winds. Some in UC, some in SC, some in FC, some in regular seating. I do understand this is happening in many universities, colleges, but it doesn't make it feel any better. Same situation on an NFL level with 49ers fans, scattered all over, or dropping their long-time season tickets, and they are dealing with empty seats in the 3rd quarter. Everyone in the club? I'm not bitter, but I'm still sad.

We have six field club seats in the Field Club. The Club is a great place to gather before the game and the seats in the stadium are very comfortable.
The money paid helps Cal athletics and costing it out is not too helpful. One buys the seats to help.
Go Bears!

I have 5 tickets in XX.
I've been to the Stadium Club 4X.
First was the Northwestern game with a group of 20 that bought tickets through ATO.....price was $250.
It was nice...but not at that price.
Then 2 times were through StubHub.
Arizona $210 and Furd $294 (what the hell, it's furd, bought 4)
Once was from the entrepreneurial folk on Piedmont Ave...
Washington $50.....10 minutes after kickoff (I actually entered using one my XX tickets for pregame but exited, had another unused XX, gave 3 others away pregame, to pick my sweater that I left at I house.) outside I House a guy offered a solid SC ticket for $100, I countered with $50 and kept walking. He caught up to me and accepted. Gave away the extra XX.

Never been to FC or UC.

One can get SC tickets for every game if one wants without spending the $MultiK premium.
No problem.
So, in other words, one can donate what they can, yet sit with the pretty people for about twice the ticket price if, so incline......all season.

Just saying.

Cheers!

We are in the stadium club. Our primary concern is supporting Cal athletics. We enjoy the seats, the food and drink, etc. Is I worth it ? That depends on how you find value. As others said, you wont drink or eat enough to reflect the ticket price. If supporting Cal is important, then yes.

We have classmates with a bock of 20 seats outside ESP. For the lower attendance games, we wander over at halftime and watch the second half with friends. For crowded games, we stay in the ESP seats.

Mama Bear;842416051 said:

---

You have described the feelings of so many Cal people. After two years I still miss the camaraderie we felt in Section GG, Row 59. Generations of football friends now scattered to the winds. Some in UC, some in SC, some in FC, some in regular seating. I do understand this is happening in many universities, colleges, but it doesn't make it feel any better. Same situation on an NFL level with 49ers fans, scattered all over, or dropping their long-time season tickets, and they are dealing with empty seats in the 3rd quarter. Everyone in the club? I'm not bitter, but I'm still sad.

---

Yeah, nine of us used to have seats together, going back over a quarter of a century. And we all used to get together (along with dozens of others) at a certain location on campus. Now that nine is split FOUR DIFFERENT ways. One of the ESP folks now likes to meet before the game where he has his complimentary parking... problem with that is it's not that good of a place ("...but we can keep all the tailgate stuff in our car!").

To me, it's this more than anything that's messed up my "game day experience". I get why we're doing it, but still...

I have Field Club seats and I think they are the best value for an ESP section and the best viewing compared to the Upper sections. If I consider the donation as a separate event due my philanthropic wishes, the tickets are a great value. The cost for the tickets and allocated parking pass run around $123 per ticket.

One aspect that no one is mentioning that it is great being a CAL ESP donor. I have met and become friends with many other CAL donors who have similar passions. I love supporting my school and team. I have had a personal relationship with all of the key athletic department personnel (athletic director, assistant athletic director, development officer, team managers, etc.). If you like being connected to your alma mater, there is nothing better. Bearinsider is a distant second. I often get a guest pass to the University Club for the food and drinks.

My question to you, if you can afford the donation, what are you waiting for?

I think it's worth it, but mainly for the reason cited above. Really less of a question of value for money than acknowledging I'm going to give Cal a certain amount each year to support a team and a university I dearly love, so why not sit in a cushioned seat and get the "free" food and drinks?

Another note that has not been mentioned is that the Stadium Club gives you a great place to "tailgate". Sure it's not quite like doing it out of your car, but let's be honest - Cal's tailgating options stink compared to most schools because of the location of the stadium on campus and the highly urban nature of Berkeley. Being able to meet friends a few hours before the game and not having to shlep around a bunch of junk to prepare and then wolf down cold/undercooked/overcooked food while invariably getting either baked alive or rained on is a huge plus for me.

As to which one is best, I move around the sections a lot (sat in all three sections for both BYU and the Big Game, for example). For me, it's really not a close call which provides the best football experience. The Stadium Club beats the others by a mile if you don't mind paying the premium over FC. The U Club is just too distant. I often have a hard time telling how the play is developng and you don't get the immediacy of feeling like you are really part of the action like you do in the field and stadium club seats. As to the Field Club, the club part of it just doesn't do it for me. The prices, the food selections and the feeling like I'm in a bomb shelter all make it less than ideal. Plus I honestly think the stadium club seats are a lot better and more comfortable.

Bottom line, Cal needs your money. Jump on in - the water is fine.