Maples Pavilion - Stanford Cardinal
- Jeremy Pushkin
- Feb 2
- 5 min read
Photos by Jeremy Pushkin and Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Maples Pavilion 655 Campus Dr Stanford, CA 94305
Year Opened: 1969
Capacity: 7,233
Electricity on The Farm?
Maples Pavilion opened in 1969 and is named after its principal donor, Roscoe Maples. The venue has hosted Cardinal basketball for over five decades, and has been the home court for future NBA talent, including Dwight Powell, Brook and Robin Lopez, and Maxime Reynaud. However, Stanford’s men’s basketball program has not reached the levels of success of other Cardinal teams, as it has been 83 years and counting since Stanford’s men’s team last raised the national championship trophy.
Food & Beverage 2
Maples Pavilion offers standard stadium fare at standard stadium prices. Food options include burgers, hot dogs, and popcorn, and vegan options are available. Beverages run from $6 for a bottle of water to $16 for premium beers (including Lagunitas IPA and Trumer Pilsners). Maples Pavilion is a Coke facility and operates as a cashless venue. Lines were lengthy at halftime for both food and restrooms, so plan to stock up prior to the game. Fans are permitted to bring in their own food and sealed non-alcoholic beverages, and with the variety of options in nearby Palo Alto, you should not plan to have a full meal here.
Atmosphere 3
Maples Pavilion is a nondescript building within Stanford's athletics complex. There is no dramatic architecture or imposing facade to greet visitors. The building is functional rather than memorable.
Inside, the 7,233-seat arena puts fans close to the action. The lower bowl features chairback seating while the upper sections have backless bleachers. When purchasing tickets, keep in mind that section numbers span both the lower and upper sections, with Row F being the first row of the upper section. The upper sections have tight legroom, making it difficult to pass through once your row fills in. Sections 9-13 face the court logo right-side up and are where in-arena presentations are aimed, making them the prime seats for first-time visitors.
A high-quality video board displays the live broadcast and replays. The arena has solid acoustics and features an in-house DJ, who performs alongside the Stanford band. The building can run warm, so be sure to dress in layers.
Neighborhood 4
Maples Pavilion sits on Stanford's campus (lovingly referred to as “The Farm”), one of the most beautiful college settings in the country. The Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, palm-lined pathways, and open quads make for a pleasant pre-game stroll. The venue is also within a 30 minute walk of downtown Palo Alto, offering plenty of options before and after the game.
The closest off-campus shopping center is Town and Country Village, with several dining and shopping options. A popular pregame spot is Gott’s, a local burger chain with beer and wine available. For those looking for more unique options, Ramen Nagi is the local outpost of a Japanese ramen chain, though be aware there may be a line.
If a classic sports bar is more your speed, the best option is the Patio, though rumor has it that Stanford legend Andrew Luck is working on reopening The Old Pro, which in its previous iteration was the Stanford Bar.
Palo Alto has a wide array of options for hotels, ranging from basic inns like the Best Western to Nobu and the Clement, both five-star hotels.
Fans 3
The announced sellout against Cal (marking the first back-to-back sellouts since 2008) brought energy to the building, though some bleacher seats in the baseline corners remained empty. When the action heated up, Maples got loud. The student section responded to big plays in bursts. However, fans lacked urgency getting to their seats for tipoff and the start of the second half, and when the game was decided, fans began to head out prior to the final buzzer.
Cal fans traveled well and were vocal throughout, arguably bringing more consistent noise than the home crowd. There was no hostility toward visiting fans, creating a collegial environment that perhaps undercuts the rivalry edge. If the Cardinal were competing for a conference title or tournament spot, there would likely be a much different feel in Maples Pavilion.
Access 4
Stanford’s campus is located a few miles from both 101 and 280, making travel to Maples Pavilion easy. Stanford has Silicon Valley congestion, but weekend games offer some relief from the traffic. Free parking is available on campus within a five-minute walk on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekday games require more planning as campus parking restrictions apply, and paid lots can fill up quickly.
If you are relying on public transit, Caltrain stops at the Palo Alto station, about a 30-minute walk or short rideshare to campus, making it an easy trip from anywhere on the peninsula.
Security lines moved steadily. Bag policy is standard with a clear bag policy, though free bag check is available for those with noncompliant bags.
Once inside, the concourse is relatively bare but functional, though lines from concession stands and bathrooms can impede the flow of traffic. There is also one stand in Maples Pavilion from which to purchase Stanford merchandise, though campus fan shops and bookstores are not far from the arena.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets on the secondary market can be found for as low as $15, even for prime opponents such as a rivalry game against Cal. While single-game tickets start at $30-$200, note that dynamic pricing can push ticket prices up depending on demand.
For fans who have the ability to attend multiple games, Stanford offers multi-game or group ticket packages that bring prices down to around $10 per game. In the Bay Area, with one of the highest costs of living in the country, Maples Pavilion is a relatively low-cost experience that is much appreciated by basketball fans in the region.
Extras 3
The Stanford Tree is frequently cited as one of the most bizarre and controversial college mascots. An anthropomorphic tree is made each year, so make sure to catch the current year’s version dancing during breaks in game action.
The Stanford dance team signed the national anthem in ASL as it was being performed, a nice gesture for any hearing-impaired fans.
In a world where digital tickets have replaced physical ones, it is great to see Stanford actually design their digital ticket, showing a high-quality graphic instead of the simple template tickets that have become ubiquitous.
Final Thoughts
Maples Pavilion offers an accessible, affordable, and intimate college basketball experience. The atmosphere is solid but not electric. For a rivalry sellout, more sustained intensity would be expected. What emerges is a polite, reactive crowd that shows up but doesn't impose its will. Based on recent performances from the Cardinal men’s team, electricity on The Farm remains more of a question than a statement.
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