Stanford Softball's Cardinal Classic I Relocated After Permit Issue

Games moved to nearby schools after Stanford failed to obtain temporary occupancy permit for new stadium

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Due to a permit issue, this weekend's Cardinal Classic I softball tournament will no longer be held on the Stanford University campus. The games have been relocated to nearby schools San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, and West Valley College after Stanford was unable to complete the necessary finishing work and obtain a temporary occupancy permit from the County of Santa Clara before hosting the event.

Why it matters

The relocation of the Cardinal Classic I highlights the challenges that sports programs can face when opening new facilities, as they must navigate local permitting requirements and inspections before being able to fully utilize the new venue. This issue has caused disruption for the participating teams and inconvenience for fans who had planned to attend the games at Stanford.

The details

The Stanford softball team opened its new stadium against Oklahoma State, San Jose State, and California just a few days ago, but failed to receive a temporary occupancy permit from the County of Santa Clara before welcoming fans through the gates. As a result, the decision has been made to move the Cardinal Classic I tournament to San Jose State, Santa Clara, and West Valley College for this weekend's games.

  • The Cardinal Classic I was originally scheduled to be held at Stanford University from February 12-15, 2026.
  • The tournament was relocated on February 13, 2026, just days before it was set to begin.

The players

Stanford University

The host institution that was unable to obtain the necessary permit to hold the Cardinal Classic I softball tournament on its campus.

County of Santa Clara

The local government entity that did not grant Stanford a temporary occupancy permit for the new softball stadium in time for the tournament.

San Jose State University

One of the nearby schools that is now hosting games from the relocated Cardinal Classic I tournament.

Santa Clara University

Another nearby school that is hosting games from the relocated Cardinal Classic I tournament.

West Valley College

The third nearby school that is hosting games from the relocated Cardinal Classic I tournament.

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What’s next

Stanford is working with the County planning department to address the remaining items at the new stadium as expeditiously as possible, with the goal of being able to host future events at the facility.

The takeaway

This situation underscores the importance of securing all necessary permits and approvals before opening a new sports venue, in order to avoid disruptions and inconvenience for athletes, coaches, and fans. It also highlights the value of having flexible community partners who can step in to host events on short notice when issues arise.