Upcoming San Francisco 49ers dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Start with the clock, then pick the side
At Levi's Stadium, the single most important seat decision is which sideline you sit on, and the answer depends on kickoff time. For an afternoon game, buy on the west side, where the suite tower throws shade as the day goes on. For a night game, the east side is a fair trade: the same sightlines, often for less money, with no sun to fight.
The east side holds most of the stadium's fans and has no overhang above it. On a warm early-fall afternoon those stands sit in full sun, and the stadium cannot simply add a roof: aviation height limits linked to the nearby airport rule out tall shade structures. Several fans suffered heat exhaustion at afternoon games in the stadium's early seasons, and on hot days the east stands have sometimes looked thin. Treat the sun as a real cost, not a footnote.
How the Santa Clara bowl is built
Levi's Stadium opened in July 2014 and holds about 68,500 for football, expanding to roughly 75,000 for major events. Roughly two-thirds of the crowd sits in the lower bowl, which makes it one of the largest lower bowls in the league. That is good news for buyers: a big share of the seats are close to the field.
The luxury suites are stacked in a single tower on the west side. Concentrating them there lets the west upper deck lean closer to the field, and it is the reason the west stands pick up shade in the afternoon while the east stands stay exposed.
- Lower bowl (100 level): the bulk of the seating, wrapping the field.
- Club (200 level): sideline seats with indoor lounge access.
- Upper deck: higher sideline and end-zone seats, with the east side fully open to the sky.
Matching the seat to the kickoff
Day games from August to October
Santa Clara is warm and dry in early fall. A 1 p.m. kickoff puts the east lower bowl and east upper deck in direct sun for most of the game, and the lowest east rows are often the hottest seats in the building. Pick the west side if heat bothers you. If you end up on the east side anyway, pack a hat and sunscreen and drink water before you feel thirsty; free sunscreen is offered at guest services stations.
Night games and late-season dates
Once the sun is out of the equation, east-side seats around midfield become one of the better buys in the stadium. They can list for less than matching west-side seats, and the view is just as good.
Where the view peaks
Lower-bowl seats inside the 20s, roughly 15 rows up or more, clear the players and staff crowding the sideline. The 200-level club adds indoor lounges, which are worth the most on a hot afternoon and the least on a cool evening.
Where the money goes furthest
The first few rows of the upper-deck sidelines give a high, unobstructed look at the whole field. The weakest seats are the upper-deck corners and end zones, which are distant and, on the east side, unshaded. Bench sides are not confirmed in published sources, so check the seat map for your game before paying extra for a particular sideline.
Opponents that drive 49ers demand
The preseason fills August. The 17-game regular season runs from September to early January, with eight or nine games at home, and playoff games follow in January. Demand is strong for nearly every date, but these stand out:
- Dallas and Green Bay: rivals with decades of playoff history and fan bases that travel.
- Seattle and Los Angeles: NFC West games against the Seahawks and Rams carry standings weight, and both fan bases make the trip.
- Night kickoffs: prime-time games remove the heat problem and attract more buyers.
- Postseason games: a short sales window and quick sellouts.
Preseason games and hot early-season afternoons against smaller-market opponents are usually the easiest to buy. On those days, the gap in demand between the shaded west side and the sunny east side shows up clearly in what buyers are willing to pay.
Trains, lots and the rules at the gate
Few NFL stadiums are as easy to reach by rail. VTA light rail stops at Great America station on the stadium's north side, with lines from San Jose, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Milpitas and Campbell. ACE trains run on game days from Stockton, Tracy, Livermore, Pleasanton and Fremont, and Capitol Corridor trains link Sacramento, Oakland and Berkeley. Coming from San Francisco, take Caltrain to Mountain View and switch to VTA. Current timetables are on the Levi's Stadium transit page.
If you drive, buy a parking pass ahead of time. Day-of card-only lots are limited and can cost more. Tailgating is permitted in designated lots, within your own space, and must stop at kickoff. Cyclists can use a free bike valet at Gates A and C on NFL game days.
As of the 2025 season, the stadium's guide lists these entry rules; confirm them before you go:
- Bags: clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, one-gallon clear plastic bags, or small clutches about 4.5 by 5 inches.
- Payment: cashless, with reverse ATMs (kiosks that load cash onto a card).
- Re-entry: not allowed.
Every Reserved Seat order comes with a 100% guarantee.
Gold rush name, five titles and three home fields
The franchise started in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and entered the NFL in the 1949 merger. Its name honors the prospectors of the California gold rush. Between the 1981 and 1994 seasons the team won five Super Bowls (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX), the run that turned the red and gold into a national brand. The 49ers compete in the NFC West with the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
Home has moved twice. Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park hosted the team from 1946 through 1970. Candlestick Park, on the bay, came next and was home for more than four decades. It was there, in the NFC Championship Game played in January 1982, that Joe Montana found Dwight Clark for the touchdown known as The Catch, beating Dallas and opening the dynasty.
The 2014 move to Santa Clara put the team on Silicon Valley's doorstep. Levi's Stadium has since hosted Super Bowl 50 in February 2016, Super Bowl LX in February 2026 and matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It holds LEED Gold certification, with solar panels and a green roof. Schedules and team news are at 49ers.com.
Frequently asked questions
Why do people avoid the east side at Levi's Stadium?
The east stands have no overhang and face full sun during afternoon games. Heat has been a real problem there, so most fans who want shade buy on the west side.
Are east-side seats a good deal for night games?
Often, yes. With no sun to deal with, east-side midfield seats offer the same view as the west side and can list for less.
Can I take a train to a 49ers game?
Yes. VTA light rail stops at Great America station beside the stadium, and ACE and Capitol Corridor trains run on game days. From San Francisco, ride Caltrain to Mountain View and transfer to VTA.
Does Levi's Stadium have a roof or shade structures?
No roof. Height limits linked to the nearby airport prevent tall shade structures, so the suite tower on the west side is the main source of afternoon shade.
What bags can I bring into Levi's Stadium?
As of the 2025 season, clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, one-gallon clear plastic bags and small clutches around 4.5 by 5 inches. Check the current policy before you go.
Which seasons did the 49ers win the Super Bowl?
After the 1981, 1984, 1988, 1989 and 1994 seasons, in Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX.