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Levi's Stadium is often criticized for its lack of personality. It's a nice big sports venue in Santa Clara, California, but not much else is typically said.
Candlestick Park tends to bring back fonder memories for San Francisco 49ers fans. Yes, it was old. Yes, it was, at times, cold and windy. Levi's Stadium, by the way, is the opposite. It may have taken you a couple of hours to get out of Candlestick Park. With all of its faults, there was so much history there. That's why it will always hold a special place in the hearts of The Faithful.
That lack of personality and history hurt Levi's Stadium in
ESPN's recent ranking of NFL venues. Many factors were used in determining the top stadiums to watch an NFL game. That includes the atmosphere, features, history, location, and the cost to get inside the gates.
At the top of the list is Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. That probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise given the history of the Stadium. Next up is the home of the division-rival Seattle Seahawks — CenturyLink Field.
You have to go all the way down to No. 20 to find Levi's Stadium, where features, tradition, location, and cost all knocked the venue down the ranking. As far as location, Santa Clara is okay. But Candlestick Park was actually in San Francisco, and the team is called the
San Francisco 49ers, after all.
Levi's Stadium is about 40 miles south of San Francisco's border. The massive building sits next to California's Great America amusement park.
| What you pay at Levi's Stadium |
| Ticket: |
$166 (get-in price: $116) |
| 12 oz beer: |
$7.44 |
| Hot dog: |
$5 |
| Parking: |
$38.54 |
| Total: |
$216.98 |
via ESPN
Of course, fans aren't able to enjoy Levi's Stadium right now due to COVID-19. Maybe at some point this season, fans will return.
ESPN praised the team museum at Lev's Stadium, highlighting the 49ers' rich history, even if much of it was at a venue that no longer exists.
"There's even an authentic replication of coach Bill Walsh's old office -- right down to his desk," notes ESPN.
As for things that need work, ESPN notes some of the items mentioned above, including the scorching seats that can sometimes bake fans during games.
"Levi's generally gets downgraded for a lack of personality and for being located in Santa Clara, a 45-mile drive from San Francisco," adds Nick Wagoner. "It lacks the charm of Candlestick or the innovation you might expect from a new venue in the heart of Silicon Valley, but a better product on the field will likely bolster how it's perceived moving forward."
Not noted by ESPN is the access to Levi's Stadium. It is much easier to get in and out of the venue than its predecessor, and it even has nearby public transportation available, which Candlestick Park lacked. If you are flying into town for a game, it is effortless to get to and from Levi's Stadium from San Jose Airport.
The San Francisco 49ers currently hold the No. 31 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. While many expect them to address the offensive line, given their recent focus on defense in free agency, ESPN's Bill Barnwell suggests a different approach. He advocates for the 49ers to use their first-round pick on a cornerback and potentially trade up to secure the right talent.
Trading up wouldn't be out of character for the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch regime. The last time the 49ers owned the No. 31 overall pick, they surrendered two more selections to move up to No. 25 overall, where they drafted wide receiver Brandon
ESPN analyst Matt Miller watches the San Francisco 49ers differently than other teams. As a 49ers fan, he feels more invested in the team's successes and failures than most analysts.
With the draft nearing, Miller made it clear which direction he believes head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch should take with their first pick. In his ESPN mock draft, a seven-round doozy, the analyst had the 49ers selecting former Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan.
Miller recently joined the 49ers Webzone "No Huddle" podcast, sharing why he adamantly hopes the team addresses the offensive line at the end of the month.
"So I
(Episode 329) — Al Sacco is joined by ESPN NFL draft analyst and insider Matt Miller to discuss the best prospect fits for the 49ers, his connection to the 49ers, how the 49ers improve their receiver corp, the state of QB play in the NFL, and more.
The audio for the show is embedded above. Remember to subscribe!
You can watch the interview below.
You can listen to the latest "No Huddle Podcast"
ESPN analyst Matt Miller understands the perspective of San Francisco 49ers fans. After all, he has been a fan of the team since he was a kid. Seeing any of your favorite players leave and put on another uniform is tough.
It's also difficult to pay everyone, and Miller knows that. It's not a formula for successful roster building, including paying two wide receivers top dollar.
The 49ers are trying to negotiate a contract extension with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The team invested heavily in another receiver, Deebo Samuel, just two years ago. Is allowing each of them to consume a significant chunk of the salary cap feasible for a team that hopes to continue being competitive and win Super Bowls?
"I have to separate the fan part of my brain, who
