Kezar Stadium, a short history.
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Introduction
Just returned from San Francisco. Enjoyed my first visit in over 20 years. Was intrigued by Kezar. Here is some I have learned.
1
Early high school football highlight, circa 1928.
In an early San Francisco city championship game between S.F. Polytechnic and Lowell High School, over 50,000 were in attendance...a game that still holds attendance records for a high school football game in Northern California.
2
Dedicated on May 2, 1925. S.E. corner of Golden State Park.
Deciation featured a two-mile footrace between Ville Ritola and Poavo Nurmi of Finland, two of the greatest runners of their day.
3
The early 49ers.
The 49ers began play here in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and joined the NFL in 1950.
Their first game was played there in 1946 against the New York Yankees. (Just to get his football team, the NFL Brooklyn Tigers, into Yankee Stadium, owner Dan Topping bought into the Yankees baseball team, withdrew his football team from the NFL and took most of his players to the AAFC as the New York Yankees, setting up the 49ers first opponent.)
Their first game was played there in 1946 against the New York Yankees. (Just to get his football team, the NFL Brooklyn Tigers, into Yankee Stadium, owner Dan Topping bought into the Yankees baseball team, withdrew his football team from the NFL and took most of his players to the AAFC as the New York Yankees, setting up the 49ers first opponent.)
4
Last 49ers game.
The 49ers moved to Candlestick Park in 1971, after losing the 1970 NFC Championship Game to the Dallas Cowboys in their final game at Kezar.
5
The early Raiders.
The Oakland Raiders were looking for a stadium to open their new franchise in. After the University of California refused to let the Raiders play home games at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, they chose Kezar Stadium and the first game was played on September 11, 1960 against the Houston Oilers. The Raiders finished the season 6-8 and the next year would move to Candlestick Park.
6
Several scenes from the film 'Dirty Harry' were filmed there in 1971.
Will have to pull that one out of the dust bin.
7
Concert venue.
With the loss of professional football in the 1970's, and its proximity to the Haight-Ashbury district, it transformed into a concert venue. Jefferson Starship, Joan Baez, The Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, and Neil Young are noted musicians who preformed at Kezar back then.
8
Earthquake of 1989.
After extensive damage in the earthquake of 1989, Kezar was rebuilt with a much smaller seating capacity.
9
Kezar now.
Presently, the San Francisco Dragons, a major league lacrosse team, and the California Victory, a new pro soccer team, call Kezar Stadium home.
This is awesome! I live not 2 blocks away from this. I'm a total nerd for this kind of stuff, i will be boring my friends for months with all this info.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Robin, you can add to #7 that Kezar was the venue for the only San Francisco concert by Britain's Throbbing Gristle. I'll bet that was some evening!
I live half way accross the country , now I feel like I know Everything about Kezar and want to vist sometime. PS Is Jimmy Hoffa buried there?
T.G. played in the late 1970's and early 1980's. A very abrasive, antagonistic group who pioneered industrial music.
They would 'clock-in' with a punch clock during their early live shows, and after preforming exactly 60-minutes, the power to the stage was cut.
They would 'clock-in' with a punch clock during their early live shows, and after preforming exactly 60-minutes, the power to the stage was cut.
there used to be a large high school...san francisco polytechnic...right across the street. only the gymnasiums are left. the architecture is beautiful.
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