Kezar Stadium sits tucked into the southeastern corner of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, a modest 10,000-seat venue today that once held nearly six times that many fans. The original stadium broke ground in 1924 and was dedicated on May 2, 1925, quickly becoming one of the West Coast’s premier football grounds.
For nearly a quarter-century, Kezar was the home turf of the San Francisco 49ers, who played there from 1946 to 1970 before moving to Candlestick Park. The old concrete bowl was demolished in 1989 and rebuilt by 1990 as a smaller community facility, and it’s now set for another chapter as a professional soccer venue.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): San Francisco 49ers (1946–1970, former); San Francisco City FC; Golden City FC (incoming)
- Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California
- Opened: May 2, 1925 (original); rebuilt 1990
- Capacity: About 10,000 (down from roughly 59,000 originally)
- Surface: Natural grass (planned in 2025 renovation)
- Notable fact: Original home of the San Francisco 49ers before Candlestick Park
From NFL Home to Neighborhood Field
When it opened in 1925, Kezar Stadium could seat nearly 60,000 fans and hosted the 49ers, the Oakland Raiders’ first AFL home games in 1960, and college matchups involving USF, Santa Clara, and Saint Mary’s. High school football’s annual Turkey Bowl also called Kezar home, a tradition that continues today.
The aging concrete structure was torn down in June 1989 and replaced by 1990 with a far smaller, modern facility featuring an eight-lane track. The rebuild traded NFL-scale grandstands for a community-oriented venue better suited to prep sports, amateur leagues, and neighborhood use.
A New Era of Professional Soccer
In 2025, San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department advanced a roughly $10 million renovation plan tied to a new lease with Golden City FC, a professional soccer club expected to begin play at Kezar around 2026 or 2027. The upgrades include a new natural grass field and irrigation system.
The move builds on Kezar’s recent soccer identity, having already served as home turf for San Francisco City FC of USL League Two, giving the century-old site a fresh role in the city’s sports scene.
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Kezar Stadium FAQs
Is Kezar Stadium the same building the 49ers played in?
No. The original 1925 stadium where the 49ers played from 1946 to 1970 was demolished in 1989. The current, much smaller stadium was rebuilt on the same site by 1990.
How many people can Kezar Stadium hold today?
The current stadium seats about 10,000 people, a significant reduction from the original structure’s capacity of nearly 59,000.
What is Kezar Stadium used for now?
It hosts high school football, San Francisco City FC matches, youth and amateur sports leagues, and is being renovated to welcome the incoming Golden City FC professional soccer club.
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Photo: Topher. / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.