49ers Open Levi's Stadium With Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
SANTA CLARA (CBS SF) -- The San Francisco 49ers have officially opened Levi's Stadium with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new facility Thursday.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell joined 49ers and Levi's executives along with Santa Clara officials to inaugurate the 49ers' new home just over four years after city voters approved the stadium and two years after construction began.
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Levi's Stadium Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and a number of players also attended the ribbon-cutting, as did construction workers who built the stadium. CEO Jed York told fans "You deserve to have the best stadium in the world – now you have it."
Levi's Stadium is the first new NFL stadium in California since 1967. "You can feel the difference at this stadium, we know the fans are going to feel the difference," said Goodell. "The stadium reflects the greatness of the region, the technology and the innovation."
The stadium is already known for its cutting edge technology and green features. The Wi-Fi system being rolled out – 40 times the bandwith of any stadium - will reportedly allow all 68,000 fans to simultaneously tweet, order food, download video and watch live streams.
The stadiums solar panels will generate all the power needed for all ten 49ers home games.
Among other improvements over Candlestick Park:
- Stadium concourses are 63 feet wide, compared to 19 feet at the 'Stick.
- More bathrooms (1,135 vs. 885) located away from concession stands to limit congestion.
- 19,200 square feet of scoreboard space, compare to 1,300 sq. ft. at Candlestick.
- Charging stations for mobile devices along concourse pillars.
The food and concession improvements on Candlestick's offerings have been well documented.
The first event at Levi's Stadium will be a soccer game between the San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders FC on August 2nd. The first 49ers game will be a preseason matchup against the Denver Broncos on August 17,
The first regular season game at Levi's Stadium will be September 14 against the Chicago Bears.
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