Those with sentimental feelings about San Francisco’s Candlestick Park better visit in the next year because the stadium likely won’t be there long after the 49ers move out.
Lennar Urban takes over ownership of the land from San Francisco following the 49ers’ last game at the 53-year-old building and plans to take down the stadium within weeks, according to company officials.
The 49ers will be moving out following the 2013-14 season and into their new $1.2 billion stadium in Santa Clara. The San Francisco Giants moved out of Candlestick Park following the 1999 baseball season.
The Candlestick site is slated to become retail space and might even house a smaller arena, which could be a potential home for the San Francisco Bulls minor league hockey team, company officials said.
Candlestick Park has been the site of a number of memorable events in sports, including two Giants World Series trips and several 49er playoff runs.
It has also been the place where many sports legends have called home. Willie Mays, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Willie McCovey, Barry Bonds, and Juan Marichal are among the Giant and 49er greats to play at the stadium.
Candlestick Park is currently owned by the city and run by its Recreation and Park Department.
Rec and Park will be working with stadium stakeholders on a public ceremony for the stadium and will likely hold an auction of Candlestick memorabilia, department spokeswoman Sarah Ballard said.
When Candlestick Park has its ownership shifted to Lennar Urban, it will become part of the Hunters Point Shipyard development deal already in place with the city, company officials said.
As part of the deal, Lennar Urban is responsible for taking down Candlestick Park within 10 years but company officials don’t expect it to even last one month.
The stadium was completed in 1960 and was initially a baseball-only facility. The 49ers did not move into Candlestick until 1971.
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