Fans thrilled to finally see 49ers in person at Superdome
The one bright spot in the loss to the Saints was a chance to attend a game
NcWORLcANS >> Adrianna and Leo Cuellar settled into their Superdome seats wearing red 49ers jerseys. From Section 139, they were separated from the 49ers bench by only two rows of empty seats.
It was the view they’ve waited for all season.
Sunday’s game in New Orleans was the first time 49ers fans could see their team this season. Fan bans were in effect the previous nine games because of COVID-19 precautions, and the Superdome opened its doors to 6,000 for this real-world escape.
“We wanted to watch the Niners play, and we can’t do that in Santa Clara,” said Adrianna, a Los Angeles native. “Everybody is wearing their masks, the stadium staff is ensuring that, there is a lot of hand sanitizing, and we feel completely safe.”
With a smattering of fans in the massive Superdome, the scene stood in stark contrast to last December, when more than 73,000 people packed the place for a 48- 46 thriller won by the 49ers.
“Best game of the year. The whole Superdome was packed with Niner fans. It was amazing,” said Massimiliano Malone, a 49ers fan from Baton Rouge. “It’s a whole different feel, for sure.”
It was a whole different result this time, too. The 49ers fell 27-13 for their third straight loss. Attendance: 5,979 — 21 below New Orleans’ prescribed limit.
Chris Jones, a Bay Area native, sat
with Malone near the 50-yard line. He harbored no coronavirus concerns.
“It certainly was a unique fan experience but most definitely felt safe,” Jones said. “Stadium security was almost militant in their approach. They handed out yellow warning cards to fans that didn’t have their masks on.”
Malone wore a George Kittle jersey while Jones repped Nick Bosa. Kittle and Bosa, who helped key last season’s win over the Saints, weren’t here Sunday. They are among the slew of 49ers stars sidelined by injuries.
Missing healthy players. Missing a throng of fans. Missing victories. Such is life for the 49ers amid the 2020 pandemic.
“With COVID, we don’t see as many 49ers fans as last year. And this is a totally different team than last year,” said Reggie Steward, a 49ers fan who came to the game with his wife Teresa.
After dropping $1,500 on tickets for last year’s game, Ricardo and Raymond Arreola, 49ers fans from Meridian, Mississippi, paid half that for this return visit.
“We were 50-50 about coming. But we haven’t had a vacation all year,” Ricardo Arreola said. “We felt pretty safe and were a good distance from other people. But it just wasn’t the same as last year.
“Last year was live, no parking. Now you can just walk around and nothing really going on.”
Thousands of 49ers fans clogged the French Quarter before and after that epic win, only a handful were spotted on the eve of this rematch. That reflected the overall tourism dip in America’s most free-spirited destination.
Why come amid a pandemic to cheer on a losing team whose roster has been whittled to so many reserves?
“Because I’m a Faithful and I’m going to represent our team any time, any place,” said Steven Safotu, who traveled from his home in Las Vegas. “That’s what I do. Win or lose, it’s Faithful, baby.”
Safotu, wearing a red 49ers cap and backpack, bought a pair of tickets on the NFL’s official scalping site, which had a limited supply ranging from $200 to over $1,000.
Also proudly wearing a 49ers cap on Bourbon Street was Mike Pascal, who drove up from his home 90 miles south in Berwick, Louisiana.
“I’m here to watch the 49ers tear the Saints up,” Pascal said.
Beneath Pascal’s chin was a plaid blue mask. He wore it not so much for protection, but as his admission ticket to New Orleans’ spoils.
“I’m not concerned,” Pascal said. “Why not? I resort to a Higher Power, you know. I’m just going by the rules so I can get my drinks and eats.”
Pascal wasn’t going to the game, however. Nor was Vincent Colbert, a 49ers fan from Dallas who was strolling Bourbon Street with his wife.
“No, I’m not going. COVID, man,” Colbert said. “My wife and I are going to stay outside, watch the game from a sports bar and hopefully see us get a victory.”
Bourbon Street’s foot traffic Saturday night was about 15 percent of normal, according to the hot dog vendor at the corner of Bourbon and Bienville. She noted that “townies” — or locals — were more likely the ones wearing masks while only about half of all people donned them.
Kevin Halfhill made the journey from Sacramento and offered this report to The Faithful back home.
“The experience in NOLA this weekend,” he said, “is like our roster this year: Empty, leaving me wanting more, and operating at about 10 percent of what it was last year.
“But I’m still obsessed with it and it’s been a blast.”