FanPost

Sunday experience at Levi's Stadium vs. Candlestick

Having been going to almost EVERY Niner games for almost 30 years I have to say Jed York and his family really did not treat the "regular" Niner tix holders respectfully with the new stadium. I will explain how the Sunday experience at Levi's Stadium is TERRIBLE-especially compared to that of Candlestick. In fact, for the "regular" season tix holder the Yorks actually eliminated amenities at the new stadium that we had at Candlestick.

First - at Candlestick everyone could do tailgating. While we rarely did tailgating it was of great importance to others so it is a HUGE loss for those that do tailgate since at the new stadium as there are very limited areas where tailgating is permitted. TAKEAWAY #1.

Second – at Candlestick there were several restaurant/bars that we could go to INSIDE the stadium at 11am to eat, socialize and watch the morning games. There was also the Stadium Club where, for a modest fee, one would get passes for a 10am entrance. Again, this was a FANTASTIC place to eat, socialize and watch the morning games AND SPEND MONEY. Everything was perfect as we watched the morning games in comfort (meaning limited noise, zero rain and no glare from the sun and ACTUAL tables and chairs - WOW- what a concept!!)

NONE of this is available at the new stadium for the 'REGULAR' season tix holders. It is like the Yorks did not care one bit about us except as a means to sell out the stadium to get the TV revenue. At Levi Stadium 'regular' season tix holders no longer have ANY access to the stadium prior to 11am. Plus, after 11am there are ZERO restaurants, real bars (only small booths that sell alcohol they call "bars") or clubs open to us. HUGE TAKEAWAY #2 and I will explain why below.

We have 3 options for our Sunday experience:

The first is the Safeway Faithful Mile which opens 3 hrs before the game. This is just a bunch of booths selling food, etc., stretched out in the parking lot with very few very small round tables (for standing only-ZERO chairs). Problems with this are: the glare of the sun making viewing the morning games almost impossible; thousands of people walking in front of you or just plain blocking you from pretty much everything; the noise and open air also prevents hearing the games. What happens when if rains??? Almost totally useless and truly a negative experience compared to Candlestick which had a similar, although smaller, setup but it wasn't the primary option!!

The second is the Red Zone Pavilion at Great America. While this offers an indoor experience with more comfort and better morning game viewing it is INCREDIBLY expensive ($90 per game includes all food and drinks excluding mixed alcohol drinks-but for those that don't eat or don't eat a lot???). The worst part of this is that it is outside the stadium maybe a quarter mile away so fans cannot watch most of the morning games then calmly head to their seats to watch the Niner game. Because it is outside and a bit of a hike we have to leave up to an hour before the game to walk to the stadium, get through all the security amongst TENS OF THOUSANDS of other fans to make it to our seat by game time.

The last option is to go inside the stadium (after 11am), however the only place people can sit is in their seats-there is no place for friends (sitting in different sections) to meet and socialize from 11am to 1pm (game time), have a beer, some food, and watch the morning games. The giant pavilion inside the stadium is totally not designed for people to congregate. The Yorks want you to spend your money then spend the next 2 hours sitting in your seats-NO WHERE ELSE.

That is not to say there are no places for SOME people to socialize. Excluding Michael Mina's which is terribly expensive even for Levi's Stadium, there are at least SEVEN restaurant/bar/clubs in the stadium but ALL are only open to the rich-based on seating-they are PRIVATE only. There then is what we are calling the CASTLE. There is about 1/3rd of the stadium literally separated from the rest of the stadium that is totally off limits to us 'regular' season tix holders.

We were allowed to tour it but were never told it would be off limits to us. Now we discover that it is a Castle with high walls to keep out the riff-raff with security at all entrances to ensure we do not fraternize with those in the private areas. It was totally disingenuous of the Yorks to withhold the truth that areas of the stadium were off limits to the 'regular' fans. Now we understand why it was built the way it was – to create a separation of the serf and royalty – sorry but that is how the Yorks have made us feel. Especially, since they also have their own private, guarded entrance to the stadium.

Do those that spent so much money deserve more?? Absolutely, they do!!! But really it appears they did not get very many more amenities then they had at Candlestick. It is just that the Yorks took things AWAY from the rest of us.

The Yorks could not even replicate just a LITTLE of the Candlestick experience by giving us 'regular' season tix holders someplace like we had Candlestick? Are we looked down upon so much that they actually thought that they could make our Sunday experience WORSE by taking things away from us, charge us A LOT more?? Is that respecting us LOYAL fans???

This stadium was built solely for the wealthy and corporations – there was not a single thing added to Levi's Stadium for us 'average' people.

Yes, we have Wifi. Nice but not really important.

And yes, we have the App to help us with the food. While in line the App said where I was had a "Short Wait". I was in that line for 50 minutes!! Guess the Yorks think 50 minutes is a short wait-hate to know what they consider a long wait!!! Perhaps this will improve but I never had to stand in a line 50 minutes at Candlestick. However, that could be because people had other options at Candlestick that they do not have now.

The view from our seats is better but not worth the thousands we spent given the important TAKEAWAYS that made our Sunday experience PERFECT for decades.

Sunday football is MORE than just the game- I am shocked the Yorks don't realize that (or perhaps just don't care). It is the socializing with tailgating or meeting up with friends in a convenient/comfortable environment (restaurant/bar/club) for the morning games, eating, talking and having a good time. Now all we have are our seats.

Overall, our experience at the new stadium is HORRIBLE and we regret renewing our season tickets with the Niners at the new stadium and if we had known all this before we would not have renewed. I am sure that is why the Yorks never disclosed this to the season tix holders-how disingenuous!!!!

It isn't worth it for the average fan. For the first time in THIRTY years we are not excited about going to the game-apathy has developed given what we had before was literally taken away from us.

How sad.



This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.