After playing at Candlestick Park for over 40 years, the San Francisco 49ers opened a shiny new stadium in Santa Clara this past season. It was a much-needed change for a franchise that was playing in one of the most outdated venues in the NFL.
However, the 49ers move from Candlestick to Levi’s Stadium didn’t come without pain for some fans that remember the Stick as their own. No matter how worn down it was, that albatross of a stadium in South San Francisco will always remain in the hearts and minds of generations of 49ers fans.
So these recently released photos from a local television station in Northern California bring an emotional mix of memories and sadness for countless fans.
You will be missed, old friend.
Photo: AP/Eric Risberg