“The greatest place on Earth to watch Cal Football FOR FREE since 11/24/1923!”
The History
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
Tightwad Hill is so named as it affords a free view of the stadium’s field, allowing fans of the California Golden Bears Football program 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, the area now known as 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, 5,000 to 7,000 fans and students made their way up to the hill that had been created above the east rim of the stadium, starting the tradition that carries on into the present day. 1923 also marks the start of the tradition known as the “Governor of Tightwad Hill”
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. While the hill did briefly go through a rough patch of not being cleaned or maintained from 1960 to 1982, fan lead efforts corrected that oversight in 1982 and have continued into the Modern Era (1982 to present).
There are and have been many unique features on the hill over the years. Some of those items and areas include or included:
- A bench that was built in a tree over 20 years ago. Another tree fell into it during the winter of 2013/2014 and, along with other trees affected by old age and storms, was cut down the week prior to the 2014 home opener. Parts of the bench were saved for future use elsewhere in the main seating area of the Hill.
- Trash cans and recycling bins to help keep the hill looking spotless during and following games.
- Terraces formed into the steep hillside to facilitate seating.
- “The Tightwad 50 Club”, which is the main seating area below where the Tightwad Hill sign once hung from.
- “The Pit”, which is an area filled with broken glass and poison ivy below the lowest seating area on the main part of the Hill.
- A bench built by Keith Salminen that was once below The Tightwad 50 Club, which was in place from 2004 to 2008. It was followed by an improved version that was used for one season in 2014 before it was destroyed by drunk frat boys during the following offseason. Pieces of this bench have been reused in various areas of The Tightwad 50 Club since 2014.
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 would have been built, it would have blocked views of the field from Tightwad Hill and would have eliminated 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 has been active on social media since the late 2000’s and began producing/sponsoring its own fan ran podcast in 2020.
Cal Varsity Rugby, Other Tightwad Hill Get Togethers, and Watch Parties
The Witter Rugby Field side of Tightwad Hill has been used on and off by fans to view Cal Varsity Rugby for years. Following a few dry runs in the early 2020’s by Keith Salminen and Tad Dellinger III, Tightwad Hill officially added Cal Varsity Rugby home games as a regular event starting in 2025.
Cal Softball might join the Tightwad Hill rotation starting in 2027, but Keith and Tad are waiting for the renovations to Levine-Fricke Field to be completed before making a final decision on that.
Outside of Cal Football and Cal Varsity Rugby, Tightwad Hill also attends events for other Cal Athletics programs (primarily Cal Baseball, Cal Men’s Basketball, and Cal Women’s Basketball) and has also held get togethers for non- Cal Athletics events over the years. The group used to do get togethers for Oakland Athletics games for years but have since shifted to get togethers at games for the Oakland Ballers following the A’s choosing to abandon Oakland after the 2024 MLB season.
When Cal Football heads out on the road for away games or bowl games, Tightwad Hill hosts “watch party” events, with the go to venue in recent years being the Kingfish Pub in Oakland. Past watch party venues have included La Val’s Pizza in Berkeley’s North Side neighborhood and Pappy’s Grill & Sports Bar on Telegraph Avenue (Pappy’s closed following on & off controversy issues in March of 2022 and was eventually replaced by Cali’s Sports Bar & Kitchen in May of 2024).
To see the current list of upcoming events for Tightwad Hill, click here.
The Governor of Tightwad Hill
The position of the “Governor of Tightwad Hill” is as old as the tradition of Tightwad Hill itself. While the position doesn’t hold any sort of official meaning or any sort of official “position of power” and has become more of an honoring title during the Hill’s Modern Era (1982 to present), the person who is in the position is considered to be the de facto leader of Tightwad Hill. Starting in 2016, an election is held once every 4 years (usually during the same year as the U.S. Presidential Election) at the final home game of the season to determined who will be the next “Governor of Tightwad Hill” for the next 4-year term.
Since 1923, 30 individuals have held the title “Governor of Tightwad Hill”. The identities of the first 26, covering 1923 to 1960, are unknown as this period saw Tightwad under the control of the UC Berkeley fraternities, who are known for being secretive about their traditions and ways. The tradition of Governor went into hiatus following the 1960 season before it was resurrected during the 1982 season, with the role adapting over the decades since the tradition resumed.
The Governors of Tightwad Hill are as follows:
1-26 – Unknown (1923-1960)
27 – Gary Dezzani (1982-1992)
28 – Marc Gantz (1992-2001)
29 – Tad Dellinger III (2001-2012)
30 – Keith Salminen (2012-Present)
The Lieutenant Governor of Tightwad Hill
During Tad Dellinger III’s time as the 29th “Governor of Tightwad Hill”, the “Lieutenant Governor of Tightwad Hill” was created to serve as an unofficial “second in command” position and is handpicked by the current Governor. Just like the “Governor of Tightwad Hill”, the “Lieutenant Governor of Tightwad Hill” doesn’t hold any sort of official meaning or any sort of official “position of power” and is considered an honorary position. This person would also, if needed, take over as “Governor of Tightwad Hill” if the current Governor, for any reason/s, is unable to finish out his or her 4-year term.
The Lieutenant Governors of Tightwad Hill are as follows:
1 – Keith Salminen (2002-2012)
2 – Mike Davie (2012-2018)
3 – Tito Soulchild (2019-2025)
4 – Jenny Ortega (2026-Present)
Note: Jenny Ortega became the first female to become part of Tightwad Hill’s “leadership” (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and/or Cabinet) during its history when she became Lieutenant Governor on 1/28/2026
The Tightwad Cabinet
The “Tightwad Cabinet” serves as the leadership body of Tightwad Hill. This was another element that was introduced during Tad Dellinger’s time as “Governor of Tightwad Hill” and has evolved since its inception in 2001. In its current form, The “Tightwad Cabinet” consists of the current Governor, current Lieutenant Governor, Governor Emeriti, and Tightwad regulars (OG’s) with over a decade of games watched from Tightwad Hill.
This body of Cal Football fans holds court throughout the year to makes decisions on the handling of game day operations, the cleaning & maintenance of Tightwad Hill (game day & during the off-season), the location for road game/bowl game watch parties, and other Tightwad Hill events/get togethers.
The current Tightwad Cabinet consists of:
Keith Salminen (30th Governor of Tightwad Hill)
Jenny Ortega (4th Lieutenant Governor of Tightwad Hill)
Tad Dellinger III (Governor Emeritus)
Gary Dezzani (Governor Emeritus)
Dan Sicular
Harrison Chastang
Bert Brown
Greg Han
“Sergeant” Aaron
Bob
Adrain Jones
Timothy Ralph
Dustin Coonrad
Marc A. Jordan
Donnie Hudson
Duncan Cannon
Rules
Pretty simple:
* Police yourself/your own
* Don’t make an ass of yourself &/or start any unnecessary drama
* Clean up after yourself when you leave
* DO NOT WEAR RED!
We’ve only had to ban one induvial from ever coming back to Tightwad Hill (a person we dubbed “The Joker” for a whole bunch of reasons that you would have to hear about in person from one of the Tightwad OG’s) and we would prefer to keep it that way.
Image of “The Joker”, who to date is the only individual to ever be permanently banned from coming back to Tightwad Hill
Social Media Links and More
Official Facebook Page
Official Facebook Group
Twitter/X Page
Duncan’s Tightwad Hill YouTube Channel
The Bear Raid presented by Tightwad Playlist on YouTube
The Bear Raid presented by Tightwad Hill
In 2020, Tightwad Hill launched and became the sponsor of its own fan ran podcast, The Bear Raid presented by Tightwad Hill. Click here for more information.
A's Fan Radio 