PACKED STADIUMS EXPECTED FOR NFL
San Francisco’s 17th game ticketed for Cincinnati
The 49ers’ upcoming season just got a lot more intriguing, and not just because the NFL approved a 17-game schedule that adds a Niners’ trip to Cincinnati.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, in a virtual meeting with owners, said he expects all stadiums will return to full capacity this coming season, the NFL Network reported.
That would be the polar opposite of what the 49ers experienced last year amid the pandemic.
No fans were allowed at Levi’s Stadium last season, and the Santa Clara County health officials took things a step further by forcing the 49ers’ relocation to Arizona their last month of the season because of COVID-19 restrictions.
A week ago, Santa Clara County moved into the state’s “orange” tier for health guidelines, allowing 33 percent capacity under state guidelines that county officials can overrule, which they did last year.
As for the expected approval of a 17-game schedule, the 49ers will
make an encore in Cincinnati, two years after spoiling the Bengals’ home opener and enhancing a run to Super Bowl LIV.
So, if history repeats, another win in Cincinnati could set up another 49ers’ run at the Lombardi Trophy. Thanks to the 17th game added to the NFL’s schedules, Super Bowl LVI has been pushed back to Feb. 13 at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.
The exhibition schedule will feature only three games, keeping the pre-playoff total at 20 games per team.
Starting in 2022, all clubs will play internationally at least once every eight years, the NFL announced, with up to four neutral-site games each year across the league. Potential host sites for those games are in the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, Mexico and South America.
The 49ers have not played internationally since 2013, when they beat the host Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
“This is a monumental moment in NFL history,” Goodell said in a statement. “The CBA with the players and the recently completed media agreements provide the foundation for us to enhance the quality of the NFL experience for our fans. And one of the benefits of each team playing 17 regularseason games is the ability for us to continue to grow our game around the world.”
The season is slated to open Thursday night, Sept. 9.