San Jose Sabercats

Scored 4 free tickets thanks to the OCC for a game. We somehow were placed in the third row so it was an awesome first experience with the Sabercats (minus the fact that we attended their only loss of the season, hah!).
The fans are loud, especially with their cow bells! If you hate noise, don’t attend please. I found the Sabercats game to be more fun than a 49ers game at Levi’s Stadium. Afterall, the Sabercats are the reigning champs right now. I’d recommend going to a game if you haven’t been before. Cheap & fun experience for all :)

We love our San Jose Sabercats. Always good fun with my coke and a dog. Stay away from the salty pretzels. Go Cats!!!

CHEAP!!! FUN!!! HIGH SCORING!!! These are some word that I’d use to describe Sabercats games. It gets loud in there to. I’ve been to a couple games, what a blast. Many times the guys on the field will play on both sides of the ball.
This is arena football, not NFL, there are some total different rules here. The sidelines are very cramped. The ball came be played off of the netting, another thing that I really like is they strongly encourage fan interaction after the game is over.
One of the times I went to a game I got four field level tickets, two hats for $ 35.00, what a deal!!!
Another thing, it may look like the Saberkittens (cheerleaders) are not wearing shoes, but they are, I promise you that. A fantastic deal for high scoring entertainment. The Sabercats have had the same owner/​coach for some years to, Darren Arbet. Also,
you should never have a problem getting ticket’s these games don’t sell out, don’t think just because the games don’t sell out that you won’t have fun, that’s not the case at all.

As part of my Saturday plan, my friends got free tickets to a Sabercats playoff game. None of us had ever been to an Arena football game before, but I had heard good things, and this is the 4^th free professional sports game I’ve gone to this year!
The crowd definitely pales in comparison to a Sharks game — while there are a good number of green and gold clothing, it isn’t the swarm of teal. Likewise, many of the internal food stands are closed down, and far less walking vendors, but with less people it means less crowds too, so not too difficult to get food and drinks.
Now things are a bit different from regular football, and I’m not talking about them playing on a hockey rink with astroturf. I’m talking about the fact that their mascot is a guy on a motorcycle. No, not a guy in a costume, just a guy. With a blowtorch that he uses to set off fireworks. Classy!
The game itself takes place on pretty much a quarter of a professional field, which in addition to less space means there are less people on the field, and very little run game. The throwing game is also interesting in that a receiver can start moving before the snap, which made us think a lot of offsides calls just don’t happen.
There are some talented players, but you also get a sense that why they are here and not in the NFL — similar to going from watching the World Cup to watching an Earthquakes match, still a lot of fun, but definitely not the same caliber.
Considering there are a lot of opportunities for free tickets, this was a lot of fun, and I can definitely see the appeal for families wanting to see a game on the cheap, and hopefully a lot of scores.

Was kinda sketch on this because i hadn’t heard much of the Sabercats. HAD A GREAT TIME!!! Awesome game Sabercats!!!

SaberCat football is the greatest value in all of professional sports. Let me tell you why:
The Arena — They don’t play at a crummy place like the Cow Palace for example. The HP Pavilion (I don’t care if it is SAP now) is one of the nicest venues in all of sports. Lots to choose from in terms of beer and food. Couple full bars are open for those that don’t want beer. Gordon Biersch is there with their awesome garlic fries.
The Atmosphere — Family friendly and action packed. The idea of Arena Football is to provide entertainment. The PA announcer is awesome at getting the crowd involved and they play music in between plays so it keeps a good flow and pace. Fans are super energetic and passionate which makes it fun.
The Value — For $ 135 you can sit in the 2^nd row of the endzone. For the entire season… Single game tickets range from $ 8-​$ 85 for their seats against the boards and season tickets can be had for as low as $ 85. There are a ton of great perks for season ticket holders as well. They also do giveaways every game. This week they have out coffee mugs to the first 5,000 fans. Needless to say they went quick.
The Players and Dance team — The players really seem to enjoy the crowds energy. For all of you not too familiar with the Sabercats, they are sort of like the Red Sox of baseball. Tons of talent, decent pay roll and they are always competitive. Unlike the Sox, they just haven’t won’t championship in a while (2007). The dance team is very talented and their performances are always well choreographed. You can tell the girls are excited to perform and be a part of the action.
Highly recommend going to a game when Spokane or Arizona are in town. Easily the ‘Cats 2 rivals, the noise level is always a bit louder for those games.

First time I’ve purchased season tickets for any event. Absolutely loved the games, SaberKitten performances, half time events. It was so much fun! Now that the season is over, I’m looking forward to next season. It can’t come soon enough.

I love food, but I love music and sports even more, which helps to explain why I enjoy seeing the SaberCats play. Their games feature both and then some.
HP Pavilion (7:30 p.m.):
My dad and I went to the game on Saturday (San Jose played the Utah Blaze).
It was at least the 6^th SaberCats game that I’ve been to.
As usual, we saved money by parking nearby (it’s interesting how many houses are just across the street from HP Pavilion– a house a block away is now up for sale).
When we arrived, my dad let himself be frisked.
It was comical (he just walked over to one of the guys and raised his arms– I briefly wondered if he had done something in the past that I was unaware of).
I had about as many items on me, but just walked right up to the doors.
The edges of the main stairs currently feature some cool images of the San Jose Sharks (it’s sad that they just got eliminated from the playoffs).
We had great seats (we were 10 rows back, and were only blocked off from seeing kicks go through the left uprights), and our tickets were just $ 9 each (my dad took advantage of a promotion).
The guy to my left was annoying (he went to the game with his dad too, and I wish his dad had been sitting next to me).
He had some booming claps (he almost made me go deaf), and he was too wound up early on (he clapped over every little thing).
Only 2 vendors were around (I’m glad that we weren’t hungry– only a few kiosks were open too).
One sold cotton candy, and the other sold Dippin’ Dots (Banana; Chocolate; Rainbow). I was tempted to buy some, but didn’t.
The woman who sang «The Star-​Spangled Banner» was pretty fine.
She also had a beautiful voice (I actually noticed).
T&A:
«Stop teasing me!» (what a guy behind us kept saying to the young woman who goes out on the field to signal the beginning and end of commercial breaks).
The woman is «too skinny» for my dad’s taste, and I think the woman the current one replaced was hotter.
It’s cute, though, the way the new woman dances. You can tell that she has a lot of fun during games (the other woman was more serious).
The SaberKittens were also standing very close to us, but I didn’t actually look at them much. With a few exceptions, the women aren’t that hot this year.
The Kiss Cam action kind of sucked.
Too many old couples were featured, and this one guy was clueless as to what he was supposed to do until the camera started to cut away.
A ton of penalties were called.
This guy and his sons couldn’t make up their minds:
«Hey refs! You suck!»
«Hey refs! You’re great!» o_​O
A Utah wide receiver made a «flying catch over the boards,» and another one went over the boards a few minutes later.
It was also memorable when San Jose defensive back Clevan Thomas made a 50-​yard interception return for a touchdown in the 3^rd quarter.
The SaberCats normally draw over 10,000 fans (the attendance on Saturday was 8,438).
Still, it often got very loud inside.
Some fans also did some crazy dances.
A few guys even took off their shirts («No, no. Put your shirts back on. Please.»).
I kind of agree with another reviewer («no more cowbell!»).
I’m used to it, but some fans bring cowbells and ring them too fuc — - much.
You might think that you’re at a farm.
Free!:
The SaberCats have always treated their fans well. This is what was given away during the game:
–3 footballs (fans get to keep balls that wind up in the stands). A guy at the end of our row caught the ball that was thrown away at the end of the game.
–A whole row got Lillie Mae’s «famous» BBQ sauce.
–Another row got Buffalo Wild Wings (I think this occurred when a guy threw a football between the uprights– he had 2 tries, but was good in his 1^st attempt).
–Another row got Round Table Pizza.
–Yet another got In-​N-​Out food (in most cases, vouchers are given out only).
The crowd went crazy, by the way, when the logo was flashed.
–As usual, some T-​shirts were shot or launched into the stands.
–5,000 fans got a Program/​Green Night Reusable Shopping Bag (
).
Some pictures from 3 fans that were posted online during the game were shown on the scoreboard.
I think the last fan won a spa treatment.
Halftime:
4 teams of 7-​year-​olds played flag football.
The action was hard to follow (the announcer had to keep turning his attention from one side of the field to the other), but kind of exciting.
Only 1 girl played, but she actually scored a touchdown. :)
:
The SaberCats almost gave me a heart attack (the game was finally decided with 11 seconds left to play, and San Jose only scored on 4 of their 9 possessions– this is pitiful for an Arena Football team), but they beat the Blaze 35 – 34.
My dad and I had a lot of fun.
Win or lose, there’s nothing like seeing the SaberCats play.

My kids and I had a blast at our very first Sabercats game! My homegirl knows the cheer captain and scored some awesome tickets. I had no idea what to expect since I had never witnessed arena football. The pyrotechnics were both scary and awesome!
I am still confused as to why I did not see an actual Sabercat mascot, but the dude on the motorcycle was interesting. Mad love to the Saberkittens for putting on an awesome show. I love their spirit! I will definitely return sometime, and take advantage of the 4 pack deal. $ 50 gets you four tickets, hot dogs, sodas, and chips.
Support your local sports teams!

We would have to say this is one of the most affordable events in the Bay Area, we all had a great time. Now with that said here is what happen, we found an ad on Groupons for tickets either $ 9.00 for lower bowl seats, or $ 6.00 for upper bowl seats, well the good thing is I know the arena very well, and there is not a bad seat in the house. We purchase our tickets of course the $ 6.00 ones. Well, not really knowing what kind of seats we were going to get, we prepared for hacking all the way to the top of the arena, bring plenty of tissue for our nose bleeds. Well, to our surprise we had tickets in the second row just above the edge of the upper deck, yes we were just above the end zone on the side, but you know what, we could see the whole game and the energy of the game was so over the top, my boys stay in the game for the whole time, and let me tell you that is very impressive.
The game as great and the players were doing everything to win, of course this game came down to the last few second for somebody to win the game which made it a fantastic game, and all the free stuff my kids got was great because they can not stop talking about the game, and now the Sabercats have three more fans and we are looking forward to attending another game in the future.
If you are looking or spend a great evening and make every dollar you spend worth the time, I would recommend coming to watch a Sabercats game you will not be disappointed.

For the love of God, no more cowbell!
Lets start off by saying this is a review of the games, not the team. I’m sure the team is lovely…
So I’d never been to an Arena football game… and I will not go back. My friend got free tickets, so I went with her and two other friends. We were all super excited. We all left bored and with headaches.
First of all most of the food vendors in HP are closed during Sabercats games because… well I can’t blame them, it would be a waste. But it is rough if you’re hungry.
So when you walk into the arena you can’t help but notice how loud it is. Now I’m not talking sharks game loud. I’m talking gates of hell, the shrieks of the forever damned LOUD! Pretty much everyone in the arena is equipped with a cowbell. And they all go to town with those cowbells the entire game, for whatever reason. Good lord my ears are still ringing!
If you’re a football fan (I mean real football) you probably won’t enjoy the game. It’s no where near as exciting. We left halfway through the the third quarter because our heads hurt and we were just incredibly uninterested in the game.
Unless you’re a big AFL or Sabercats fan, I’d avoid going to a game.

As an NFL junkie I’m always going though football withdrawals during the off-​season. Some friends and I decided to watch the San Jose Sabercats game to fill the void. While it’s not the same as watching NFL games it was still somewhat exciting.
This is the best way I can explain watching the Sabercats play or any arena football games. While watching the game is fun I can’t take it seriously. I don’t know any of the players so I can’t root for them and while I might have a general sense of the rules I still don’t know all the rules in detail. Overall, it was a good experience and I’m glad I went. My friends and I are already planning on going to the next home game.

First time I have ever gone to arena football game and it was fun. It is different from regular football because the arena is smaller and they do use nets for the field goals or to retrieve the ball. The crowd really gets into the chanting. Expect high scores and lots of fun.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HOMETOWN ATHLETES!!!
Thank you to Jose Martinez (our account executive of the San Jose Sabercats) for completing our 2012 season tickets. I absolutely love my new seat for this season. No longer will I sit up in the rafters. No longer will I elbow with the common folks in Section 126. I’m very happy with being at the sideline now.
The March 10^th, 2012 opening game was totally awesome — defeating the Arizona Rattlers in overtime (right down to the final seconds with the 71 to 70 win for the Sabercats).
Parking: $ 10.00-$ 15.00 (bring cash)
The new 2012 merchandise & swag:
Season Tickets: See official website

Over the years I’ve been to 30 or so Sabercats games… What is there not to like about a Sabercat game? Cheap, not crowded, high scoring and the Sabercats usually win!
You can buy tickets ahead of time if you like, but there is always someone selling extras outside for a fraction of face value. Even the cheap seats are decent.
For a special occasion, I bought a few row one tickets… awesome… expensive but an experience like you have never had!
If you haven’t gone to check out the Sabercats, you need to!

i went to my first sabercats game last night :). Like any other sporting event you can expect a lot of noise, excitement, and fun. I had never watched arena football live before so it was definitely a new experience for me.
It was strange to see HP pavillion turned into a football field especially since I’m used to seeing it as an ice rink (go sharks!). Yes, they still kick field goals. Yes, you most certainly can get hit with a football. Oh and because the arena is smaller players are more likely to not control their momentum and topple over the barriers into the crowd. I’m not complaining, just letting you know! It’s really fun to watch just hope that you’re not the one getting run over!!!
The Sabercats have some pretty die hard fans. I had no idea that the arena football league was so revered. The team plays well no doubt. I’m sure they always put on a great show. The Saberkittens don’t have to wear shoes when they cheer! If I was 5 years younger and 6 inches taller you bet your a5s I would have tried out! lol!!!
FYI– if you’re bringing little kids to the game be mindful bc the arena gets super noisy when they score… and they score a lot! I used toddler earplugs on my daughter and she enjoyed the show just fine without having to step out. Oh another thing too… tickets are REALLY cheap for the show they put on! it’s a great deal for sports lovers and for a night of family bonding.

I’m so happy with the news that the Sabercats will return to the Arena Football League in 2011. Here’s the news in case you missed it:
I come from a football watching household that loves their Niners, but I’ve always had a liking for the shorter field and the back and forth action presented by arena football.
Hopefully Mark Grieb will change his mind and return as the Sabercats QB. I can’t imagine a Sabercats team without him.

–99 stars for the AFL (Arena Football League) for shutting down for the 2009 season, they say that they will return next year, but I have my doubts. (They made some very questionable decisions for expansion locations…)
+25 stars for the Saber kittens. Normally not a fan of the cheerleaders, they usually get in the way of the sports, I must say I do like them and appreciate their routines. I think that Golden State should replace their warrior girls with them.
+50 stars for the smart ownership, John Fry, (owner of fry electronics) your a awesome owner who made good, smart business practices that entertain the fans night in and night out! The half time shows kick ass!
+25 stars for Arena bowl championships in 2002, 2004 and 2007, two conference titles and eight division titles.
+25 fun and affordable evenings out for the family and players always gave autographs to the little ones… And the ladies. Sadly I was neither.
+500 stars for the very supportive fans that continually has a very high turn out, 10,000+ at every game! They give such an electric atmosphere!
I really, really hope that they come back next year in 2010. It honestly isn’t looking to good considering that they are offering full refunds to their 2009 season ticket holders if you call their office. Let’s hope they will come back soon, the Sabercats gave me my football fix when the NFL is on vacation. If you haven’t seen one in person, you’ve severally missed out, so make sure that you pray to the football gods that the AFL’s return…

Okay, I *begrudgingly* admit that the entertainment value is relatively high, but as far as pure athletic events go, well, it’s kind of like calling pro wrestling a *real* sport. I mean, the AFL is a real league, and the players are really playing, but do they really need to have half naked ladies at either end of the field? And, the big screen spends 90% of it’s time focusing on hot ladies in the crowd (or said ladies at the end of the field), which makes me think the pervy camera guy could care less about the game. I have gone twice now on comped tickets and I wonder if anyone actually cares about the action ON the field.
And seriously, it’s like total sensory overload – there’s a big boom every time they score a touchdown (which, think how small the field is, and with games scoring upwards of 50 points or more… that’s a lot of booms), the announcer starts screaming «It’s SHUTDOWN tiiiiiime! Make some Noiiiiiise!» like every five minutes so it’s extremely loud the whole time, and on top of that, the big shiny lights get reflected off of the Saber Kittens’ uniforms so one is practically blind.
I think that if you want to bring the family to an affordable sporting event, and you don’t mind that it’s in San Jose, then this is for you. You might need to explain to the kids why there are so many scantily clad ladies (and why they all have the exact same skin color, even though it’s semi-​diverse racially… and why even bother with a «skirt» when it’s slit all the way up to the wasit band anyway?), and why the camera guy only picks out hot girls in super short skirts. Also expect extreme disorientation and potential hearing loss, along with limited knowledge of what actually happened on the field (Maybe I have a short attention span, because with all the chaos going on outside of play, I missed most of the game).
Okay, I’m being harsh. I just find the whole thing ridiculous. GO CATS! RAWRRAWRRAWR!

If I could, it’d be 3.5 stars. The atmosphere is fun but since their home games are at HP, that means you pay a pretty penny to drink/​eat.
Arena football is definitely an entertaining sport. The game moves fast, there are a ton of touchdowns, and the sidelines are non-​existent which creates some interesting plays.
I’m more of a purist when it comes to football but even so, I am entertained by this version of football.
The fireworks, Harley motorcycles, and dancers in shiny tops kinda make it feel like a concert mated with a football game and out popped the AFL.
Plus the Sabercats are good (or they were last year anyway) and that always amps up the fun level at a sporting event.