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City Guide - San Francisco - Sport | ||
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Sport With so much else on offer it is easy to see how sport sometimes finds itself in the shade in this vibrant city: but not any longer. The Pacific Bell Park opened on 11 April 2000, when the San Francisco Giants took on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since then both the crowds and the team have done well in their new home, billed as a 'state-of-the-art old-fashioned ball park'. Located at King and Third Streets, on the waterfront, it is not unknown for a powerful hitter to knock a ball into the Bay. The 40,800-seater stadium is accessible by all forms of public transport and every major ferry line now has new boats on order to cope with the increased demand. Tickets are often limited but are available at the ball park the day of the game, two hours before the start (tel: (800) 734 4268; website: www.sfgiants.com). The season ends in early October not long after the city's second major team, the San Francisco 49ers, of the National Football Conference, don helmets ready for the start of the American football season, which runs until December. Tickets, priced at US$45, are often sold out. Home games take place at 3Com Park (tel: (408) 562 4949; website: www.sf49ers.com). Golf: This ever-popular sport is well served with a number of courses open for public use. The 18-hole Presidio Golf Course, Finley Road (tel: (415) 561 4653), is the only course in a US national park and has a reputation as one of the finest in the region. Another popular public links is Harding Park Golf Course, which has both nine and 18-hole courses. It is located at Harding Park Road and Skyline Boulevard (tel: (415) 664 4690). Fees start at around US$95 for the day but booking well in advance is essential. Tennis: There are around 150 free public tennis courts within the city. Mission Dolores Park, based at 18th and Dolores Street, has six lighted courts. The North Beach Playground, at Lombard and Mason Street, has three. More information is available from the San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department (tel: (415) 753 7032). |