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Tightwad Hill
Tightwad Hill is the popular name for Charter Hill, the hill rising to the east of California Memorial Stadium at the University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, California, U.S.
Tightwad Hill is so named as it affords a free view of the stadium's field, allowing fans of the Golden Bears to see the game for free. The hill usually has its occupants, even when the stadium sports empty seats. Tightwad Hill is part of Charter Hill, the area behind campus that also encompasses the Big "C", a large concrete letter "C" in the hillside.
Tightwad Hill rises steeply about 100 feet above the east rim of the stadium, to a relatively flat area where spectators perch. Created when Memorial Stadium was built in 1923, Tightwad Hill was created from the dirt removed during the excavation of lower Strawberry Canyon. The first time fans were seen on the hill for Cal games was on November 24, 1923, during the inaugural game at California Memorial Stadium, which Cal won by a final score of 9–0, beating Stanford for the fifth straight year and securing their fourth straight undefeated season. Due to the stadium being sold out for the game, fans and students made their way up to the hill that had been created above the east rim of the stadium.
Since then, U.C. Berkeley students, staff, faculty, and the public have enjoyed fall days on the hill, cheering for the Golden Bears and enjoying the view of the U.C. campus, downtown Berkeley, and the central San Francisco Bay.
There are and have been many unique features on the hill over the years. Some of those items and areas include or included:
In 2006, the Regents of the University of California began considering a major renovation of Memorial Stadium. One plan proposed the construction of a new seating structure, the so-called "Eastside Seating Structure" on the promenade on the east side of the stadium. If this were to be built, it could block views of the field from Tightwad Hill, possibly eliminating this unusual and colorful tradition. An organization called "Save Tightwad Hill" sued the university, claiming that the Environmental Impact Report for the stadium project did not adequately analyze the impacts of the planned improvements on historic resources and scenic views. The group eventually settled with the university. Under the terms of the agreement the university agreed in concept to preserve Tightwad Hill as an important Cal football tradition, and to include representatives of Tightwad Hill in the design process for east side improvements.
Tightwad Hill became the sponsor of The Bear Raid podcast on November 15, 2020, the same date as the debut of the show. The long-term goal of the podcast, currently hosted by three members of The Hill (two of which are current and former "Governors of Tightwad") is to cover all of the Cal athletic programs.
To the right of the fans on the hill is the platform for the California Victory Cannon. Constructed in 2004 to serve as a replacement for the old wooden cannon platform, the concrete and stone structure was paid for through a 2003 donation campaign spearheaded by current and former UC Cannoneers, the keepers and operators of the cannon. This permanent structure debuted during the 2004 season as the new perch for the Victory Cannon. At every home game, rain or shine, the cannon is loaded and shot at each of the football team's run-outs, whenever Cal scores a touchdown, and when a Cal victory goes final. The resulting boom is heard throughout the stadium and the surrounding area, and has come to be known as "Oski's Mighty Thunder."
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Tightwad Hill
Tightwad Hill is the popular name for Charter Hill, the hill rising to the east of California Memorial Stadium at the University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, California, U.S.
Tightwad Hill is so named as it affords a free view of the stadium's field, allowing fans of the Golden Bears to see the game for free. The hill usually has its occupants, even when the stadium sports empty seats. Tightwad Hill is part of Charter Hill, the area behind campus that also encompasses the Big "C", a large concrete letter "C" in the hillside.
Tightwad Hill rises steeply about 100 feet above the east rim of the stadium, to a relatively flat area where spectators perch. Created when Memorial Stadium was built in 1923, Tightwad Hill was created from the dirt removed during the excavation of lower Strawberry Canyon. The first time fans were seen on the hill for Cal games was on November 24, 1923, during the inaugural game at California Memorial Stadium, which Cal won by a final score of 9–0, beating Stanford for the fifth straight year and securing their fourth straight undefeated season. Due to the stadium being sold out for the game, fans and students made their way up to the hill that had been created above the east rim of the stadium.
Since then, U.C. Berkeley students, staff, faculty, and the public have enjoyed fall days on the hill, cheering for the Golden Bears and enjoying the view of the U.C. campus, downtown Berkeley, and the central San Francisco Bay.
There are and have been many unique features on the hill over the years. Some of those items and areas include or included:
In 2006, the Regents of the University of California began considering a major renovation of Memorial Stadium. One plan proposed the construction of a new seating structure, the so-called "Eastside Seating Structure" on the promenade on the east side of the stadium. If this were to be built, it could block views of the field from Tightwad Hill, possibly eliminating this unusual and colorful tradition. An organization called "Save Tightwad Hill" sued the university, claiming that the Environmental Impact Report for the stadium project did not adequately analyze the impacts of the planned improvements on historic resources and scenic views. The group eventually settled with the university. Under the terms of the agreement the university agreed in concept to preserve Tightwad Hill as an important Cal football tradition, and to include representatives of Tightwad Hill in the design process for east side improvements.
Tightwad Hill became the sponsor of The Bear Raid podcast on November 15, 2020, the same date as the debut of the show. The long-term goal of the podcast, currently hosted by three members of The Hill (two of which are current and former "Governors of Tightwad") is to cover all of the Cal athletic programs.
To the right of the fans on the hill is the platform for the California Victory Cannon. Constructed in 2004 to serve as a replacement for the old wooden cannon platform, the concrete and stone structure was paid for through a 2003 donation campaign spearheaded by current and former UC Cannoneers, the keepers and operators of the cannon. This permanent structure debuted during the 2004 season as the new perch for the Victory Cannon. At every home game, rain or shine, the cannon is loaded and shot at each of the football team's run-outs, whenever Cal scores a touchdown, and when a Cal victory goes final. The resulting boom is heard throughout the stadium and the surrounding area, and has come to be known as "Oski's Mighty Thunder."
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