New Stanford Stadium gains community support New Stanford Stadium gains community support (June 10, 2005)

Additional traffic possible, but not a likely roadblock to approval

by Jocelyn Dong

If initial reactions from government officials and the public are any indication, the proposed large-scale renovations to Stanford Stadium could sail through the county's approval process.

That would be a relief to Stanford University, which has a history of encountering opposition to its development projects, most recently the Munger Graduate Residences and the Mayfield Development Agreement.

This week, city and county officials expressed support for the $85 million plan to revamp the 84-year-old U-shaped bowl, which would shrink the number of seats by 35,000 while expanding the stadium's overall square footage by 30,700 square feet.

"I don't think there would be a problem with it. There's a great deal of support from the university," said Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss. "There's a number of positive aspects (to the plan): the parking, the amenities, the facilities. And apparently, ingress and egress."

Palo Alto officials will not have authority over the approval, since Stanford land is under Santa Clara County's jurisdiction. However, since the stadium sits at the border of Palo Alto -- at El Camino Real and Galvez Street/Embarcadero Road -- the city will be given copies of the proposal and asked for comment.

"All the power to them," said Palo Alto Council member Vic Ojakian, one of two council members serving on the council as a liaison to Stanford. "What Stanford does to their stadium -- putting in new bathrooms and new concessions -- that's within Stanford's realm to decide."

The stadium plan calls for a reduction in seats, but the Stanford Athletics Department staff are hoping the more intimate atmosphere will draw more fans to the games - much like the move from Candlestick Park to SBC Park, which boosted attendance for the San Francisco Giants.

An average of 36,000 fans turned out for Stanford football games last season, despite the stadium's 85,500-seat capacity.

Council member Yoriko Kishimoto, the second liaison to Stanford, is mindful of the traffic issues related to the stadium. She lives on a main route to Stanford.

"As a resident on Embarcadero, I'm always concerned about traffic up to these games. ... I wish them well in redoing the stadium, I just hope they give some consideration to the off-site impacts," she said.

On game days, she said, the city pays for reserve officers to direct traffic and make special lane configurations. Kishimoto said she and her neighbors have learned to navigate around the pre- and post-game traffic during the three- to five hours surrounding the game.

Both she and Ojakian cited one positive side effect for Palo Alto should the plan be approved: more fans staying in town to dine and shop afterward.

One possible downside of the stadium renovation is that national and international athletic events might no longer be held at the university, sports experts said. The capacity of the stadium would no longer be large enough, it is believed. For another, the opening and closing ceremonies couldn't take place on the stadium's track, since removing the track is part of the renovation plan.

Anne Cribbs, CEO of the Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee, which tried unsuccessfully to lure the 2012 Olympics to the Bay Area, said she's not overly concerned about the loss of the track, since Stanford has a separate track and field facility.

Cribbs is also involved in bringing the 2009 Summer National Senior Games to Stanford, and she's the executive director of the Fifty-Plus Lifelong Fitness, which holds an annual fitness weekend at Stanford.

"We'll see where we end up. If there's no track ... at the stadium, we'll have to finish at Cobb Track and Angell Field," she said. "It's all good stuff."

To some, the news of the stadium revamp has come out of nowhere, but it's been in the works for years, according to Stanford Senior Assistant Athletic Director Gary Migdol. Four years ago, the university solicited architectural firms to review and suggest improvements on the stadium, and three years ago a feasibility study cited numerous problems with the facility.

At the time, Provost John Etchemendy denied a renovation was in the works, citing graduate student housing as a greater priority.

Most of the pieces of the renovation project came together in the past year, including the $60 million in funding, Migdol said. Hoover and Associates has been hired as the architectural firm.

Palo Alto City Manager Frank Benest said Stanford informed his staff of the project about a month ago. He didn't feel the plan warranted earlier notice.

"I don't see that this project is a major impact (on Palo Alto)," he said.

The county is now examining the architectural and site review application and grading plan, and will report on its completeness by June 27, said county Senior Planner Gary Rudholm. He expected to know what kind of environmental report Stanford would need to conduct at that time.

Stanford will also give Palo Alto city staff a briefing, probably within the next month, Benest said.

Senior Staff Writer Jocelyn Dong can be reached at jdong@paweekly.com.

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