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Watch the Slow Demolition of Candlestick Park

Lisa Pickoff-White
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June 9: A Candlestick Park logo amid the ruins of the former 49ers and Giants stadium. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

At first it seemed as though Candlestick Park wasn't really going anywhere. There was the last 49ers game, a Legends of Candlestick Game and, finally, the Paul McCartney concert.

But now, with one last section of the windy old monstrosity left standing, it feels very real.

A massive development featuring a shopping mall and lots of housing is supposed to rise from the rubble. That project will be part of the enormous San Francisco Shipyard development, which includes plans for 10,000 new homes, nearly a third of which will be designated as affordable housing.

June 26: One final section of Candlestick Park remained standing. In the distance: the site of the old Hunters Point Naval Shipyard.
June 26: One final section of Candlestick Park remained standing. In the distance: the site of the old Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
'We’ve had seasons tickets ever since they moved to Candlestick from Kezar,' fan Joe Quilici remembered. 'My dad’s no longer with us, and he was die-hard. He used to sit right over there in Section 37. I just had to see it one more time. For me it’s personal. Very personal.'
'We’ve had seasons tickets ever since they moved to Candlestick from Kezar,' fan Joe Quilici remembered. 'My dad’s no longer with us, and he was die-hard. He used to sit right over there in Section 37. I just had to see it one more time. For me it’s personal. Very personal.' (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
June 9: A worker sprays water on Candlestick rubble. In January, officials changed their demolition plans after nearby residents complained that the planned implosion would send clouds of potentially toxic dust wafting through the neighborhood.
June 9: A worker sprays water on Candlestick rubble. In January, officials changed their demolition plans after nearby residents complained that the planned implosion would send clouds of potentially toxic dust wafting through the neighborhood. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
June 9: A worker amid the Candlestick Park rubble.
June 9: A worker amid the Candlestick Park rubble. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

KQED photographer Anya Schultz followed construction crews as they began tearing down the stadium in February.

Some seats from Candlestick park were sold last summer — $749 for a pair. Money raised through the sales benefited San Francisco Recreation and Park’s Scholarship Fund.
Some seats from Candlestick park were sold last summer — $749 for a pair. Money raised through the sales benefited San Francisco Recreation and Park’s Scholarship Fund. (Anya Schultz/KQED)
Crews began by demolishing Section 33.
Crews began by demolishing Section 33. (Anya Schultz/KQED)
Workers began removing seats well before demolition began.
Workers began removing seats well before demolition began. (Anya Schultz/KQED)

KQED captured this time-lapse of the last regular-season 49ers game at Candlestick Park.

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