There are also several citywide athletic events during the year. The Bay to Breakers footrace is held annually (since 1912) and in typical San Francisco fashion features colorful costumes as well as running. The San Francisco Marathon is an annual event that attracts more than 7,000 participants.

San Francisco Parks & Recreation lists upcoming events, facilities, and more.

Organized sports are a favorite past-time for fun-loving San Franciscans. Tickets can be bought on any of the team websites, or bought from individual sellers on eBay, Craigslist, oodle, and Stubhub.

National Football League (NFL): San Francisco 49ers are the hometown team and the first professional sports franchise on the West Coast. In 1994, the Niners made NFL history by becoming the first team to capture five Superbowl championships. Despite several poor seasons, fans still come out and wait for the glory days to return. The Oakland Raiders are also popular. If pro ticket prices are just too high, try college ball. Berkeley and Stanford University both have teams.
Major League Baseball (MLB): The Giants are the local baseball team. Neaby Oakland's A's (Athletics) have a following throughout California.
National Basketball League (NBA): The Warriors are San Francisco's only men's major league basketball team. The Dons are the city's women's team and very competitive. The same schools as football offer college basketball for much less money than the pros in both men and women's.
National Hockey League (NHL): The closest hockey team is the San Jose Sharks. A unique team representing the Bay Area is the San Francisco Earthquakes, a gay hockey team.

Arenas or stadiums:

• McAfee Coliseum: formerly the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, this 48,000 capacity stadium accommodates the Oakand Athletics and Oakland Raiders.
• Candlestick Park: also known as "the Stick", "3Com Park", and "Monster Park", was once the field for both the Giants and 49ers. The 49ers still play here, but there is a new stadium to be completed in 2012 for the football team.
• AT&T Park: First called Pacific Bell Park, this is homefield for the Giants since 2000. If you are looking for a free view of the game, "The Knothole" is a free standing room section accessible from the waterfront promenade that runs behind the right field fence (arrive early as this area fills up quickly). For particularly high-demand games, the Giants sometimes stations a staff member to circulate viewers and give everyone a chance to watch the action for a few minutes.
• Oracle Arena: Actually located in Oakland, this it the court used by the Warriors. Concerts are also held here.
• The Cow Palace: Offering a bizarre array of entertainment options, the Palace is famous for being the "home" of the Grand National Rodeo, Horse & Stock Show. There are also concerts, boxing, dog shows, and circuses held here.
• Infineon Raceway: NASCAR races and more at this year-round motorsports complex with events scheduled 340 days and 50 weekends a year. More than one-half million fans passed through the gates during the 2007 season.
• Golden Gate Fields Race Track: offers horse racing close to the city.

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