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The San Francisco 49ers will play their next two games in Arizona following the new Santa Clara County COVID-19 health order that bans the team from using its home stadium for about a month starting Monday, Nov. 30.
Through a deal with the National Football League and the Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers will host their home games against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 7 and Washington Football Team on Dec. 13 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
“The Cardinals organization, State Farm Stadium and League officials have been supportive and accommodating as we work through the many logistical issues involved in relocating NFL games,” 49ers officials said in a statement.
The county introduced the new guidelines on Saturday following a record-breaking 760 new cases in a 24-hour period. The county banned contact sports until at least Dec. 21, leaving the 49ers without access to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan said he was blindsided by the new order and was “extremely disappointed” upon learning the news before boarding a plane with the team to Los Angeles on Saturday.
“Everyone has been so committed to this, so the biggest thing for me is just all of us leaving our families,” Shanahan said at a news conference following a 23-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. “We’re all humans just like everyone else, and it’s a big deal to leave your family for the whole month of December.”
The team has still not announced where it will practice, but Shanahan said the team needs at least three full days before each game.
“Information regarding the 49ers future practice arrangements will be shared at the appropriate time,” 49ers officials said.
If I were the 49ers I would permanently leave the Bay Area.
Strange times, indeed.
It would be great if the 49er coaches and players would do PSAs informing their fans that it is their responsibility to behave responsibly. Given the number of 49ers fans and their penchant for gathering, I bet improvement in their behavior could reduce the number of COVID cases by at least 30% and the 49ers would not be leaving.
Fine with me if the 49ers were not in Santa Clara County.The City of Santa Clara and SJC Airport have found them a headache prior to Covid. Now they may constitute a public health risk to this region and others where they travel – look at how many test positive and may infect their WAGs and hanger ons and team staff, etc., eventually the general public/vulnerable/random persons – all while many of the rest of us remain highly disadvantaged and sheltered! The wasting of tests on this contact sport is disgusting. Pro tennis and golf makes sense but NOT football!!
Do you think that the SF people should have torn down and rebuilt Candlestick? A great location not directly in a city but great views and freeway accessible.
And in Oakland the continual dirge of relocation a sports facility in the Oakland Harbor with a lot of housing. The harbor is a major revenue generating feature of the city and a major employer of a diversified employment base. And ships are betting bigger. Matson is building one in San Diego that is two football fields long. They need to be able to get in – turn, and work in the area. How stupid is it that we keep making these type mistakes over and over. All of the cities in CA that have sports teams are encountering financial troubles relative to long term bond issues, disruption to the other city functions, etc. And lack of delivery to all of the hoopla that got every one in the problem to begin with.
If the team moved to Arizona permanently then that is on the management of the team in general who has not done a good job. It is called the “Peter Principle” – people rise to their level of incompetency.
>”Fine with me if the 49ers were not in Santa Clara County.”
^ Many Santa Clara residents & 101 commuters share that sentiment.
>”Do you think that the SF people should have torn down and rebuilt Candlestick? A great location not directly in a city but great views and freeway accessible.”
^ All things considered, Candlestick Park was a DUMP…the Giants moved out of there in 2000.
Some old-time 49er fans still yearn for the Kezar Stadium days.
>”And in Oakland the continual dirge of relocation a sports facility in the Oakland Harbor with a lot of housing.”
^ That concept is pending as the grounds are highly contaminated.
>”If the team moved to Arizona permanently then that is on the management of the team in general who has not done a good job.”
^ If you are referring to the 49ers, Arizona already has an NFL team…the Cardinals.