Candlestick Park
Plans were underway to construct a new 68,000-seat stadium at Candlestick Point. On November 8, 2006, however, the 49ers announced that they would abandon their search for a location in San Francisco and begin to pursue the idea of building a stadium in Santa Clara. As a result, San Francisco withdrew its bid for the 2016 Olympics on November 13, 2006, as its centerpiece stadium was lost. Groundbreaking for the Santa Clara stadium occurred on April 19, 2012. On May 8, 2013, the media announced that the name of the new stadium would be Levi's Stadium. The stadium opened on July 17, 2014, in time for the 2014 NFL season. The 49ers christened their new home a month after it opened.
History of the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco finished the 2013 season at 12-4 and were the NFC's 5th seed. The 49ers first Wild Card game in over 11 years was a week 1 rematch against Green Bay. San Francisco would set up a game-winning drive and kicker Phil Dawson kicked a game-winning field goal to win 23-20 over Green Bay. In the Divisional round, San Francisco avenged their week 9 loss against Carolina and won 23-10, in a game where San Francisco's defense played a key role that kept Carolina scoreless in the second half. With the win, San Francisco clinched their third straight NFC Championship Game appearance. The 49ers travelled to CenturyLink Field to take on the NFC's #1 seed, Seattle Seahawks. However San Francisco would turn the ball over three times in the fourth quarter and lost to the eventual Super Bowl champs, 23-17 and were denied their return to the Super Bowl. Key turnovers for the third straight year prevented San Francisco from winning it all. During the game San Francisco lost their star linebacker, NaVorro Bowman to a left knee injury that later revealed was a torn ACL and MCL.