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 . 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 live , even if the stadium is sold out or if they don ' t want to buy tickets . 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 " . 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 24th , 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 the current items include : - 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 , were cut down the week prior to the 2014 home opener . Parts of the bench though have been saved for future use somewhere in the main seating area of the Hill . < br > - Trash cans and recycling bins to help keep the hill looking spotless following games < br > - Terraces formed into the steep hillside to facilitate seating < br > - " The Tightwad Country Club " , which is the seating area below the Tightwad Hill sign < br > - " The Pit " , which is an area filled with broken glass below the lowest seating area on the main part of the Hill . < br > - " Tightwad Country Club Bench 2 . 0 " , which is an updated version of the bench that was in the same spot from 2004 to 2007 nailed to the base of a tree below the Country Club . The new bench made its debut during the 115th Big Game on October 20th , 2012 . 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 celebrated its 90th Anniversary in 2013 . California Victory Cannon . 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 . " Starting at the Big Game of 1963 , the California Victory Cannon was traditionally brought by members of the UC Rally Committee to be fired inside the stadium . When the old Pac - 8 Conference banned cannons from stadiums in 1972 , all other Pac - 8 schools abandoned their cannons ; Cal , however , maintained the tradition as the hill behind the stadium was ruled to be outside the zone governed by the ban . Since 1972 , the Victory Cannon has been fired from outside of Memorial Stadium to the delight of fans on and off Tightwad Hill . The cannon has only once run out of ammunition , in a 1991 home game against Pacific where Cal scored 12 touchdowns . In addition to being fired at all Cal home games , the cannon has traveled to bowl game s , such as the Holiday and Copper Bowls , as well as to away games against Washington and Indiana .