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Beyond the Scoreboard

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BTS BOWL WRITING PLAYOFF

Who Had It Better Than Me at the 2012 49ers Playoff Game? Nobody!

I danced and hugged strangers in a triumphant victory over the Saints.

8 min readDec 31, 2024

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The author at Candlestick Park, in San Francisco. January 14, 2012.
At Candlestick Park in San Francisco to watch the 49ers vs. the Saints on January 14, 2012. Copyright: Author. All rights reserved.

My wife and I arrived two hours before kickoff to watch the first NFL Playoff game at Candlestick Park in nine years.

Demand for the coveted NFL Divisional Playoff tickets to the highly anticipated contest between the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints drove the prices to double what they usually sold for.

However, I was fortunate to pay only face value for two lower-level seats at the 30-yard line, thanks to a work colleague who was unable to attend at the last minute.

Upon exiting our car at the stadium’s parking lot, my wife and I immediately noticed the smell of smoke from all the portable BBQ grills. We looked around and saw red-and-gold-clad fans scattered all over the parking lot, eating hot dogs or having a few beers. Others walked around holding signs, screaming in excitement for the game.

It was a noticeably different atmosphere because there had been little to cheer for in recent seasons. Considering the 49ers’ rich history and legacy, this is hard to believe.

Beyond the Scoreboard
Beyond the Scoreboard
Mark Baquiran
Mark Baquiran

Written by Mark Baquiran

Writer, story teller, & freedom fighter.

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