Kezar Stadium, Public stadium in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, United States.
Kezar Stadium is a public sports facility in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, with an eight-lane track encircling a central grass field used for football, soccer, and track meets. The complex has seating along both sides, and the oval layout allows clear sightlines from the stands to athletic competitions and matches taking place on the turf.
In 1922 the Park Commission accepted $100,000 from Mary Kezar's estate for a memorial to her mother and uncles; the city added $200,000 and ground was broken on June 27, 1924. Dedication on May 2, 1925 featured a two-mile race between Ville Ritola and Paavo Nurmi. The 49ers played here until the 1970 NFC title loss to Dallas on January 3, 1971, then moved to Candlestick Park.
The stadium is named for Mary Kezar, whose 1922 estate gift of $100,000 built a memorial to her mother and uncles, pioneers in the area. The city added $200,000. Each autumn it hosts the city high school football championship, known as the "Turkey Bowl", and the Bruce-Mahoney rivalry game between St. Ignatius and Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Kezar Stadium sits in the southeastern corner of Golden Gate Park, next to Kezar Pavilion, and is used for amateur and recreation leagues as well as San Francisco high school football, including the city championship known as the Turkey Bowl. The stadium is the home ground of San Francisco City FC of USL League Two. Visitors enter from the surrounding park paths; the running track and grass field are the main areas in use.
The grey stone archway inscribed "KEZAR STADIUM" on the far side of the field is a later addition, not part of the 1925 bowl. The original stadium held about 50,000 and was demolished after the 49ers left for Candlestick Park following the 1970 NFC Championship Game, a 17–10 loss to Dallas on January 3, 1971.
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