1. The Stanford Tree
The Stanford Tree is one of the more colorful mascots in all of College sports as it is the official mascot of the Stanford Band rather than the university. The Tree is also the only mascot in all of sports that is rebuilt every year rather than having a fixed costume. Keep your eyes peeled for the Tree as it will surely provide plenty of entertainment throughout the game.
2. Stanford Band
No matter what the venue, the Stanford band is one of the wildest and craziest bands in all of sports. In the past, the band has been reprimanded several times for pulling pranks and has even been banned from other arenas. When attending a Stanford basketball game keep your eyes on the band as you never know what crazy stunts they’ll pull next.
3. Stanford-Cal Rivalry
Stanford and Cal absolutely hate each other and there is no love lost when the two meet on the hardwood. The hatred between these two Bay Area schools runs deep and you won’t want to miss it when they square off. Cal leads the all-time series 146-117, but the games between these two are always close contests. Come out and support Stanford when Cal comes to town.
4. Nerd Nation
This is the what the legion of Stanford student fans call themselves when supporting their team. The students in the student section show their love and support for the Cardinal by wearing fake nerd glass and nerd nation T-shirts, so if you’re looking to take in a Cardinal game with some of the wildest fans then look no further than the student section.
5. Concessions
At most college basketball venues you’ll find only standard stadium fare such as hot dogs and fries, but at Maples Pavilion there are a wide variety of concessions options. The “From the Farm, For the Farm” stand has a bunch of premium options including a spicy black bean burger and Gordon Biersch garlic fries. If those options don’t excite you there are is also a California Pizza Kitchen stand, so no matter what you have a taste for you’ll likely find it at Maples Pavilion.
6. “All Right Now”
“All Right Now” has become somewhat of a de facto fight song for the Cardinal as it is often played throughout the game. It even has gotten so popular that it has displaced the official fight song at football games.
7. Banners
Hanging in the corners of Maples Pavilion are banners showing off all the accomplishments of the Stanford sports that play there. The men’s basketball banner celebrates the Cardinals two national championships and two final four appearances, so make sure to check it out.
8. “Come on Join the Band”
“Come on Join the Band” has been the official Stanford fight song since 1907, so join in on its singing the next time you attend a Cardinal football game. The song pumps up the fans and is a great way to get in on the Stanford spirit.
