From playoff hockey to baseball to a crafts fair – this weekend has some awesome things to do in the South Bay and San Francisco. This post will show you public transit options to and from these events to help you beat traffic gridlock and parking hassles.
Due to San Francisco Giants baseball and Maker Faire in San Mateo, expect standing-room only (SRO) conditions on Caltrain this weekend. This will especially be the case on Saturday, with San Jose Sharks playoff hockey in San Jose around 4pm.
More details follow…
San Jose Sharks Playoff Hockey
The San Jose Sharks continue their quest for their very first Stanley Cup when they host the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. The game’s face-off is scheduled to be at 4:15pm at SAP Center, 525 W. Santa Clara St. in San Jose.
About an hour before the game, there will be a pre-game street rally and a fan-involved light show.
Our transit guide to SAP Center has the VTA bus, light rail, and Caltrain options you need to beat traffic gridlock, high parking prices and parking hassles near SAP Center.
San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s.
In San Francisco, the Giants host the Chicago Cubs on Saturday at 4:15pm and Sunday at 5:05pm.
Caltrain rail service takes fans from the Peninsula and South Bay to and from all Giants home games at AT&T Park. In fact, Caltrain’s 4th and King terminus is only a 5-10 minute walk away from AT&T Park.
Meanwhile, in Oakland, the A’s host the New York Yankees on Saturday and Sunday at 1:05pm at O.co Coliseum.
From San Jose or Milpitas, take VTA’s 181 express bus to the Fremont BART station. From there, transfer to any northbound BART train to the Coliseum/Airport stop. At Coliseum/Airport, walk across the railroad bridge to O.co Coliseum.
As an alternate transit option, Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor trains from San Jose Diridon station stop at the Coliseum station in the back of O.co Coliseum. Visit the Capitol Corridor site for more information, including a schedule and fares.
San Jose Earthquakes Viewing Party
On Sunday, there will be a soccer game viewing party at Avaya Stadium on Coleman Avenue in San Jose. That viewing party will be hosted by the San Jose Earthquakes, as the team visits the Los Angeles Galaxy in their California Clasico rivalry with kickoff at 4pm. Gates to Avaya Stadium open one hour before, at 3pm. There will be food trucks, games and activities available at the viewing party around the big screen in front of the stadium. While admission to the viewing party is free, RSVP is needed.
PROTIP: As the special 231 bus from downtown San Jose will NOT be running for this event, here’s how to get to Avaya Stadium from downtown San Jose. From downtown San Jose, take any Palo Alto-bound VTA 522 Rapid (preferred) or 22 bus to the Santa Clara Transit Center. At the Transit Center, walk across the parking lot and Railroad Avenue to transfer to the 10 Airport Shuttle bus. The FREE bus is a 5 minute ride to Avaya Stadium. Alternately, follow this tip to use VTA light rail from downtown San Jose and the 10 Airport Shuttle bus to reach Avaya Stadium.
Maker Faire (San Mateo)
From now thru May 22nd, the 11th Annual Maker Faire Bay Area takes place at the San Mateo Events Center. The Event Center is at 1346 Saratoga Drive in San Mateo – a 5-10 minute walk from the Hillsdale Caltrain station. Read more information on what Maker Faire is all about.
Read Caltrain’s weekend schedule to learn when trains depart and leave the Hillsdale Caltrain station. Also, SamTrans’ ECR bus line along El Camino Real stops two blocks away from the Event Center entrance, on El Camino Real and Saratoga Drive.
For More Information…
Follow @svtransitupdts on Twitter for transit updates to and from these and other events throughout the South Bay. Transit reports from BART, VTA, and other transit agencies from transit riders like YOU are reported daily. Read how YOU can help report public transit delays.
Stay safe and have fun on the buses and trains this weekend.
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users