The Personalities Of San Francisco 49ers Tailgating
Throughout the parking area at Candlestick Park, you'll find beer drinkers alongside wine sippers among San Francisco 49ers tailgaters. You'll spot burger eaters and seafood lovers. You'll see Chevy pickup trucks and Mercedes-Benz luxury cars. But a common Red and Gold thread runs throughout the tailgate scene.
Yes, the atmosphere is largely friendly and relaxed. Yet not every tailgating experience at Candlestick is uniform. Here's a look at three one-of-a-kind tailgating activities at The Stick.
VIP Tailgate Party
Starting at $265 a person, you can party in a private tent equipped with flat-screen TVs linked to NFL Sunday Ticket and the Red Zone Channel. The all-inclusive food and drink menu features an all-you-can-eat buffet along with soda, wine and beer. Appearances by 49ers alumni and the Gold Rush cheerleaders are part of the package.
At least 50 tickets must be purchased for this VIP package. All of those tickets will be grouped in lower-level seats. The 49ers say VIP parties are "perfect" for hosting clients, employees, friends or relatives.
Bud Light Goldmine
The Bud Light Goldmine, open to all ticket holders, is a sports-bar-style area inside F Plaza. It opens three hours before kickoff and closes right after the game starts.
Big-screen TVs show NFL games and a live DJ plays tunes. Merchandise and concessions are also available for sale. The team's mascot, Sourdough Sam, makes regular game-day appearances.
The 49ers say the Goldmine "is one of the most popular aspects of the game-day experience."
Faithful City
Located near Gate 4 in the parking lot, Faithful City offers a family friendly place to hang out before the game and the best part is that admission is free. Faithful City opens three hours before kickoff. You can grab some food, enjoy games, listen to a pre-game broadcast, take pictures with Sourdough Sam and meet Gold Rush cheerleaders and 49ers alumni.
No matter where you tailgate at The Stick, there's a universal sense of pre-game excitement. However, some fans get a bit carried away and can therefore eliminate the fun of the experience. To reduce the likelihood of a "frat boy mentality" putting a dent in tailgating at Candlestick, the 49ers prohibit:
- Obscene or abusive language and behavior
- Offensive clothing
- Fighting, taunting or threatening remarks and gestures
- Intoxication caused by alcohol or drugs
- Inappropriate displays of affection
- Gang activity
Check out Tailgate Fan to keep the party going at tailgatefan.cbslocal.com.
John Egan is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
