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This season, the 49ers have a chance to bring a Super Bowl trophy back to San Francisco for the first time since 1995. Looking beyond that, Niners brass is bringing a new element to the Bay Area -- a state-of-the-art football stadium. Having broken ground back in April, the new facility in Santa Clara is set to open in 2014, according to this video report from CSN Bay Area's Brodie Brazil.
The 49ers moved in to Candlestick Park in 1971, having left Kezar Stadium after playing there for nearly three decades. Now sights turn to a $1.2 billion stadium -- officially called Santa Clara Stadium -- with a seating capacity of 68,000. April 2012 began a 26-month process that has seen workers pull double-shifts, work overtime and even work around the clock to stay on track.
Santa Clara Stadium is reportedly more than twice the size of Candlestick, with the extra space being used for amenities and concourses to allow fans to maneuver more easily. The 49ers will share the stadium with the San Jose Earthquakes of the MLS.