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The big-league Giants are a train ride away, but the most relaxed baseball near Palo Alto is in San Jose. The San Jose Giants, the San Francisco Giants' Single-A affiliate, play at Excite Ballpark on East Alma Avenue, a small stadium built in 1942 near Kelley Park and Happy Hollow. Seats are close enough to hear the catcher talk, parking is a short walk from the gate and the whole evening can cost less than a single upper deck seat at Oracle Park.
This guide covers the team: the 2026 season, the 2027 calendar, getting there from Palo Alto, tickets, family tips and history. For the parent club, see our guide to the San Francisco Giants.
The 2026 season
The San Jose Giants came into 2026 as defending California League champions after their 2025 title. They kept winning. The club won the North Division's first half title, then the second half too. It entered late August with a league-best 70 wins and 50 losses, according to its own series previews. In the playoffs San Jose beat the Stockton Ports in the best-of-three North Division Series. It then met the Lake Elsinore Storm, a Padres affiliate, in the best-of-three California League Championship Series in mid-September, with Games 2 and 3 at Excite Ballpark.
On November 2 the ballpark is quiet. The club's ticket page thanks fans for the 2026 season and promises updates on the 2027 promotional schedule and holiday events. Many of this year's players will move up a level in 2027.
The 2027 calendar
The club has posted its 2027 schedule as a downloadable calendar on its schedule page. The season opens with a series against Stockton starting Thursday, April 1, 2027. It runs through the summer to early September, with California League playoffs after that. Opponents are the other Cal League clubs: Stockton, Fresno and Visalia in the North Division plus Inland Empire, Lake Elsinore, Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario in the South Division.
The calendar does not show promotions yet. In 2026 the club ran 14 fireworks shows, mostly on Friday nights plus July 3 and July 4, along with theme nights such as Star Wars, Harry Potter and Bark in the Park. It also ran San Jose Churros nights, when the team plays under an alternate identity. Lucha Libre shows were part of the mix too. Expect a similar mix in 2027 once the promotional schedule comes out in winter.
Getting there from Palo Alto
By car
Excite Ballpark is at 588 E. Alma Ave., about 20 miles from downtown Palo Alto. Take US 101 south to Interstate 280 or State Route 87, then head for Alma Avenue. The club's ballpark A to Z guide lists three lots, first come, first served:
| Lot | Listed rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose Giants main lot | $20 | Reserved for season ticket members on Friday fireworks nights |
| San Jose State golf lot | $20 | Short walk |
| Happy Hollow lot, Senter Road | $15 | Next to the park and zoo |
The guide labels those rates for the 2025 season, so check them before 2027 games. Weeknight games start in the evening, which can mean a slow drive through South Bay commute traffic. Leave early or aim for a weekend game. Sunday afternoon games are the easiest drive of the week.
By transit
Transit takes longer but works. The club suggests VTA routes, including bus 25 toward Alum Rock from the Tamien light rail station to Story Road and Senter Road, three blocks from the ballpark. From Palo Alto, Caltrain to San Jose Diridon and a VTA connection is the usual way to start. The club itself asks fans to check VTA for current times. Our Palo Alto to San Jose guide covers Caltrain and VTA options.
Tickets and cheap seats
This is the bargain of Bay Area pro sports. Tickets are sold online at sjgiants.com, by phone at 408-297-1435 and at the Excite Ballpark box office. The club does not post a fixed price list for 2027 yet, so treat any price as a guide. General admission seats have long been the cheapest option and give a good view in a ballpark this small.
- Mini plans and season tickets lock in the most popular dates, such as fireworks nights and theme nights.
- Group tickets suit youth baseball teams from our youth sports guide, birthday parties and work outings. The club also offers a Baseball and BBQ package in the picnic area.
- Fireworks Fridays sell fastest. Buy those early.
- Beer Batter Thursdays brought drink specials at every Thursday home game in 2026.
Visitors from out of town can compare hotels in San Jose and fit a ballgame into a South Bay weekend.
Tips for families
The San Jose Giants are one of the best family outings near Palo Alto. The club's guide includes rules that matter to parents:
- Children 4 and under do not need a ticket if they sit on an adult's lap or in Bowl Reserved. Children 5 and older need a ticket.
- After Sunday home games, kids can run the bases. Saturday fireworks games are the exception.
- Outside food and drinks are not allowed, except unopened soft-sided water bottles, baby formula, baby food and medication.
- Gates open one hour before game time. Batting practice is over by then, but infield warmups are fun to watch.
- The club's Baseball Buddies package has let groups of kids meet players and stand on the field for the anthem.
Food at the ballpark runs from hot dogs to a pizza stand and a third base taco booth, per the club's guide. Alcohol sales stop after the seventh inning. Make a day of it with a morning at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, whose Senter Road lot doubles as ballpark parking. For more ideas, see our Palo Alto with kids guide.
Following the team from home
Every San Jose Giants game is broadcast live on the club's website and on TuneIn, per the ballpark guide. Games are also available through MiLB.TV. Minor league games are rarely on bar televisions, so for a crowd, go to the ballpark. For the parent club on a big screen, The Pro at 541 Ramona Street posts a TV schedule and The Patio at 412 Emerson Street has 21 flat-screen TVs.
A short team history
Professional baseball in San Jose goes back well over a century. The current franchise dates to 1962, when the San Jose Bees joined the California League. The team later played as the Missions, the Expos and the Bees again before becoming the San Jose Giants in 1988, when it took up its long affiliation with San Francisco.
The ballpark is older than the team. Built in 1942 as San Jose Municipal Stadium, it has drawn nearly 8 million fans, the club says. The club lists 11 league titles, in 1962, 1967, 1979, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2021 and 2025. Many San Francisco players passed through on the way up, including members of the 2010s World Series teams. For a different kind of local baseball, Stanford plays in spring at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond.
Frequently asked questions
What level are the San Jose Giants?
The San Jose Giants are the Single-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants and play in the California League. Many players are in their first or second pro season. Several later reach the majors with San Francisco.
When does the San Jose Giants' 2027 season start?
The 2027 schedule posted by the club starts with a series against the Stockton Ports beginning Thursday, April 1, 2027. It runs into early September. In 2026 single game tickets went on sale on February 12, so expect a similar timeline.
How much is parking at Excite Ballpark?
The club's ballpark guide lists $20 for the San Jose Giants main lot and the San Jose State golf lot and $15 for the Happy Hollow lot on Senter Road, first come, first served. On Friday fireworks nights the main lot is reserved for season ticket members.
Do kids need a ticket at San Jose Giants games?
Children 4 and under do not need a ticket if they sit on an adult's lap or in the Bowl Reserved area, according to the club. Children 5 and older need a ticket.
Can kids run the bases at San Jose Giants games?
Yes. After Sunday home games the club invites kids onto the field to run the bases, entering on the first base side and leaving on the third base side. Saturday games with postgame fireworks are excluded.