Update on the pedestrian tunnel from today's Roadshow column: http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow/ci_29781571/roadshow-what-is-copper-wire-thievery-costing-us Soccer fans queue up to leave the parking lot following a San Jose Earthquakes' game at Avaya Stadium, March 22, 2015. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Q A while ago, you mentioned plans to build a pedestrian underpass between the Santa Clara Caltrain station and Avaya Stadium. I can't find any updates on the progress. Our offices are at the corner of North First Street and Skyport, and a number of folks would like to ride bicycles from the west side of the airport to the east side without having to detour around to Hedding Street and the Guadalupe bike trail or without having to hazard riding on De La Cruz Boulevard. Aviva Garrett, Edmund Fong and several others A Finally, some good news. The Valley Transportation Authority, the city of San Jose and the developer, Hunter Properties, have been negotiating to close a $6 million funding gap. The developer will pick up that tab. Now comes the fun part -- coordinating with all the major transit lines to find a time when all tracks can be taken out of service so that crews can trench underneath the tracks. That's Caltrain, Union Pacific, Amtrak, the Capitol Corridor and ACE. The VTA is expected to approve a contract in June, and hopes the work can be done over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Thanks for this report. They hope to trench under the tracks over the Thanksgiving weekend. Unfortunately, the article doesn't give an estimated time for the completion of the project. I suppose a contractor could do some of the portal, ramp and walkway work on the San Jose side of the tracks prior to the trenching to get this too long delayed tunnel opened as soon as possible.
I'm not thrilled with the Modelo party zones, either. But I think people are getting ahead of themselves in saying, as a result, henceforth the LOBINA area "will be a really shitty place to watch a game" and the "stadium is really starting to suck for those who want to watch the game from behind the goal." First of all, the Quakes do not appear to have closed fully "half the terrace." From what I can see, the entire back row of the terrace remains open behind the tables. Also, the tables do not occupy any portion of the space between LOBINA and the field. More than half the terrace remains open. The exact percentage eludes me but it's plainly more than 50 percent. Second, the field level supporters terrace at the other end remains open to all who want to watch the game from behind the goal. It's actually better than LOBINA, by a considerable margin. (And Beers of the World has better selection than LOBINA.) The fact that Imperio Sismico occupies almost half of it does not prevent anyone -- and I mean anyone (including apparently those in the opponent's colors, whom I've encountered there) -- from standing and watching from the Casbah/Faultline zone. I think it will be okay. Maybe I'm wrong, but experience will tell.
So first you all are complaining about 3 sides to the stadium and now that they are starting to fill that up you complain about that too
So the NFL bag policy has more or less come to Avaya Stadium. I'm not happy about this. You can see where people complained about this two years ago, and last year, but apparently it's such a good idea that it's going to be implemented at all games at Avaya starting this weekend. I don't understand what problem this is supposed to solve. I wrote my season ticket rep, and suggest you do the same if this affects your enjoyment of games.
I just posted pretty much the same thing on Facebook. I don't think it will help to write your rep as it's league-wide. I don't ever bring anything to Avaya, and I was happy this year (until now) because it seemed the screening was less invasive than it had been last year. I never did figure out why I had to take off my Earthquakes cap.
Don, The picture has 4 tables. The article says there will be 8. So double what you see in the picture. Unknown yet if it will be on one half of the terrace or maybe just the two end sections. The article says up to 6 seats at each table, while the picture shows 3-4. So imagine seats on each end of all the tables, and it's apparent they'll need to keep other people out of the area and maybe even move the tables farther apart. At minimum they use 4 of the 8 grassy patches. And the area used is 2-3 times as wide as the rail-to-bar area, some of which is used up by people in line at the bar. Of course the other terraces are open, but it's the difference between hanging at the bar vs. hanging with the supporters. A lot of people seem to really like the former, they leave our perfectly good section and never come back. I personally don't get it, but I can't deny it's popularity. We'll all see soon enough when they find enough s̶u̶c̶k̶e̶r̶s̶ well-heeled patrons seeking a premium experience in the shadow of LOBINA.
The announcement says that they got input from all 20 teams. I have complained to the Quakes about the NFL bag policy every time it's been required before (which was only two games) - I want to know if they took that feedback and provided it to the league.
I bring in the bag they gave STH last year, just to hold scarves and an extra sweatshirt. I'd be kinda pissed if we couldn't bring that. Why not get your act together in the off season and give us compliant bags, if that's the plan.
I used to bring in the STH bags when I sat in the moat. But now that we're upstairs, there's not enough leg room to put that down anywhere. So I'm finally coming to games with just a big jacket with big pockets, and a fanny pack. I don't even bring blankets anymore, since so far, upstairs is not very cold.
Just wanted to warn you guys - at the NYRB game on Apr-13-2016, I used the Evernote app on my iPhone, logging in to the Evernote server via the Avaya network. Apparently someone snagged my login, because they then submitted a support request to Evernote. There is no way I submitted a support request during the game. When I got home, I found a customer support response from Evernote in my email. I subsequently changed my Evernote password, but I've been a bit freaked about this all week...
That's freaky, MJ. I had an experience at Avaya a few weeks ago when I was waiting for the game to start and Amazon notified me that I'd just ordered a book. I didn't have any Amazon or Kindle apps running, and all the people who use that account were at the game with me. I thought it was strange but didn't connect it to Avaya. As for carry-ins -- I tend to dress immigrant style, in layers. It was cold in the moat last game so I wore the down coat I bought for east coast winter trips. It's easy to spot me on the game video because I look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
My frustration with the bag policy, in the case of bombings (not to sound alarmist, but I guess I am), is that with a vast majority of the fans funneled to a single entrance, perhaps the biggest soft target is right at the bag check.
No "perhaps" about it, the large mass of people in line, there because of unnecessary security protocol, would provide the easiest and largest target for an unlikely attack. Sports leagues are trying to cover themselves from liability by instituting this ridiculous policy while seeming security minded and, gasp, patriotic. We are nearly infinitely more likely to get hurt or killed by a drunk driver leaving the game (not that I'm advocating banning [overpriced] alcohol sales), especially with how poorly SJPD handles traffic control at Earthquakes Way and Coleman Avenue. Then again, it is easy to control and manipulate a fearful populace.
Based on what I am hearing, that Fancy Quakes backpack is no longer allowed. Under the new league-wide Bag Policy, fans are prohibited from bring the following into a stadium**: Large purses Coolers Briefcases Backpacks Luggage of any kind Computer bags Camera bags Any bag larger than 14’’x14’’x6’’
Are we really complaining about the added security measures? MLS was way behind the curve. The fact that these measures (bag checks and body cameras) were rolled out so quickly and not adopted prior to the start of the season is a little alarming. They most likely have credible information to believe MLS stadia are vulnerable and probable targets.....mums the word, don't tell the children.
Yes. ...of being paranoid? These are just cover your ass measures. And they have always checked bags at Avaya. You don't think someone couldn't just run right through the gate at Avaya and blow themselves up? Or toss/hand a bag over a fence at the stadium to an accomplice on the inside?
They dont check sweaters. I sneak in food and drinks all the time. They just require you to place it on the table.