Some Misbehaving, Arrests of Final Candlestick Fans

UPDATED: Dec. 24, 6:45 a.m.

In the San Francisco 49ers regular season swan song of Candlestick Park Monday night, at least one person was hurt and 30 others were arrested, police said.

San Francisco police Sgt. Danielle Newman said police would not be releasing a lot of details about the goings-on Monday at the 53-year-old Candlestick Park where the 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-24.

"There were some thefts of stadium property. ... I know that some seats were destroyed tonight ... I know of some signs being taken off the wall," Newman said.

At least one person was reported injured during the game but not seriously, Newman said.

Police said this morning that 30 people were arrested for property destruction and drunkenness; seven received citations; and 81 people were ejected from the stadium during the game.

Some drunkenness suspects had to be taken to jails in police substations because the San Francisco County Jail could not handle additional people in that condition Monday night, which is not unusual, Newman said.

The county jail has limited space, "so once the county jail is full of intoxicated people, they have to start moving them out to the district stations," the sergeant said.

The county jail being full of those suspected of drunkenness "usually happens during New Year's Eve," she said.

Some football fans had to be turned away from the game Monday because the tickets they held were counterfeit, but Newman said she was not sure how many.

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Dec. 23, 1:51 p.m.

With the San Francisco 49ers playing their last regular-season game ever at Candlestick Park tonight, police will be out in full force to make sure fans behave themselves.
           
The game against the Atlanta Falcons, scheduled to start at 5:40 p.m., could be the final one played at the venerable stadium, which opened in 1960 and has been the 49ers' home since 1971 -- although the team could still potentially host a playoff game there.
           
Police will be on the lookout tonight for anyone who may try to vandalize the stadium in order to take home a keepsake, San Francisco police Sgt. Eric O'Neal said.
           
"The message is pretty simple," O'Neal said. "There's going to be a no-tolerance policy of any crime activity. If people are ... wanting to consider taking things, they would just be arrested. There's no ifs, ands or buts about it."
           
The sergeant said the Police Department "will have more officers for this game than we've ever had for any other game at Candlestick."
           
Next year, the 49ers are moving to the new Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, and Candlestick Park will be demolished by late 2014 or early 2015, according to San Francisco's Recreation and Park Department, which oversees the stadium site.
           
Parking lots will open at the stadium at 1:30 p.m. today, and the stadium gates open at 2 p.m.
           
Motorists are advised to expect delays on all San Francisco highways this afternoon and evening, and fans attending the game are being encouraged to take public transportation.
           
For more information on San Francisco Municipal Railway special game-day service to and from Candlestick Park, people can visit www.sfmta.com/football.
           
The 49ers plan on holding pre-game festivities this evening to commemorate the last regular season game at Candlestick.
           
The team is also encouraging fans to use social media to share their memories of the stadium by using the hashtag #FarewellCandlestick on Twitter or Instagram.

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