49ers Owner Plans Special Farewell For Candlestick Park
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York said Wednesday his team and the City of San Francisco are making big plans for fans to say goodbye to Candlestick Park before it is demolished sometime next year.
Originally a baseball-only stadium, the San Francisco Giants held their first game at Candlestick Park on April 12, 1960 and played at the 'Stick through the 1999 season. It received its name after the Giants asked fans at a contest to name the park.
49ers Owner Wants A Special Goodbye For Candlestick Park Before Demolition
In 1971, the stadium was expanded to accommodate the 49ers, who eventually won five Super Bowls in the 1980s and early 1990s. The Niners will play at Levi's stadium in Santa Clara in 2014.
Beyond sports, the ballpark was also the site of The Beatles final live concert on August 29, 1966. Pope John Paul II held Mass at the stadium in 1987.
York said the team and the city wants to do something special on the final 49ers game at Candlestick Park.
"We'd like to be able to let people buy their seat at Candlestick," he said. Proceeds from seat sales would go to charity.
San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department Properties Director Nick Kinsey said there will also be a big civic celebration sometime in 2014.
"The stadium is bigger than just the 49ers and we're going to do a civic farewell," Kinsey said.
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