Bay FC’s inaugural home game at PayPal Park: Here’s what to expect

Bay FC is advising all fans to get to PayPal Park early to avoid delays and take part in pregame festivities.

Bay FC will host a sellout crowd of 18,000 for its inaugural home match at PayPark on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT against the Houston Dash.

The newest expansion team in the National Women’s Soccer League, Bay FC is off to a 1-1 start to the season after back-to-back road games, a 1-0 win over Angel City FC and a 2-1 loss to the Washington Spirit.

Saturday’s home opener is available to watch on ION, which can be accessed through multiple streaming services including several free options.

For those attending Saturday’s game, the first 5,000 fans through the gates will receive an inaugural pin. And Bay FC will begin its FanFest celebration with food trucks, a photo booth and  some giveaways at 5 p.m. inside the stadium.

Bay FC’s founding members Brandi Chastain, Aly Wagner, Leslie Osborne and Danielle Slaton are expected to be at the game.

The club is advising all fans to get there early and expect traffic delays.

A few things to know:

Parking: 

Parking lots for fans will open at 4 p.m. PT and the stadium gates will open at 5 p.m. Parking passes can be purchased ahead of time for $27.

Parking lots are expected to fill quickly and the club is encouraging fans to take BART, Caltrain or use rideshare services.

Rideshare:

Bay FC has partnered with Lyft and all fans can receive 50% off ($5 max per ride) for two rides to/from PayPal Park on Saturday by utilizing the code BAYFCHOME. There will be designated pick-up and drop-off rideshare locations at the stadium.

For those taking public transportation, Bay FC recommends the following:

Caltrain – For San Francisco and Peninsula-based fans, Caltrain offers a short train ride from both to the Santa Clara station, offering an opportunity to interact with other Bay FC fans on their way to the stadium. Please check the weekday and weekend train schedules for service to and from the park.

Upon arrival at the Santa Clara station, head East under the pedestrian tunnel onto Brokaw Avenue and turn right on Coleman Avenue, to PayPal Park.

From Coleman Avenue it’s an easy 10-15 minute walk from the station to the stadium.

Fans who would like to bring their bikes onto Caltrain may do so and park in PayPal Park’s bike parking area.

BART – Fans who are traveling from the East Bay are encouraged to take the Orange and Green BART lines to the Berryessa/North San Jose BART station. Please check the BART schedule to plan your trip in advance.

Upon arrival at the Berryessa station, a complimentary shuttle will be available to PayPal Park before and after each Bay FC home match. Pre-match shuttles will start at 5 p.m. and run until 7 p.m.

To locate the shuttle pre-match, fans should cross the street to the northbound lane of Berryessa Station Way and look for the buses in marked pick-up zones.

Shuttles will drop fans off at the corner of Earthquakes Way and Coleman Avenue.

For the return trip, fans can board a shuttle on Earthquakes Way outside the stadium’s main gate after the final whistle. The last shuttle will depart approximately one hour after the final whistle.

Weather:

There’s a chance of rain during game time but the match will be played rain or shine. Umbrellas are not allowed in the park. A limited number of ponchos will be available for purchase.

PayPal Park is a cash-free facility.

For more on Bay FC, check out our season preview stories about general manager Lucy Rushton, how she built the Bay FC roster, why the club is investing so much money and who they drafted with their first pick in the NWSL draft.