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49 Things For San Francisco 49ers Fans to Do Before the Super Bowl

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P-Lo and Saweetie's new 49ers anthem, 'Do It For the Bay,' arrives just in time for the playoffs. (Saweetie / YouTube)

Here in the Bay Area, there’s no shortage of sports history and cultural activities to enjoy before the San Francisco 49ers’ return to the Super Bowl. With a victory against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Feb. 11, the gold-rushers could tie the NFL record with six Lombardi Trophies.

As someone who’s witnessed the team’s rise and fall over three decades, including their latest Super Bowl win in 1994, I say the more the merrier on this gold-plated bandwagon. So whether you’ve seen every 49ers ’chip, or this is your first rodeo, here’s a list of 49 things to do before Super Bowl LVIII.

Kota Ezawa, 'National Anthem (San Francisco 49ers),' 2019; watercolor on paper, 16.5 x 29 inches, edition variée of 3.
Kota Ezawa, ‘National Anthem (San Francisco 49ers),’ 2019; watercolor on paper, 16.5 x 29 inches, edition variée of 3. (Courtesy of the artist and Haines Gallery)

1. Visit Treasure Island’s Gold Bar Distillery, a whiskey lover’s paradise — and the makers of this Joe Montana-sponsored whiskey — with a view of San Francisco’s skyline.

2. Snag a tee of 49ers legend Steve Young embracing the ’94 trophy like his firstborn child, or a mashup of Draymond Green wearing linebacker Dre Greenlaw’s uniform, from Breezy Excursion.

3. Press play on the latest 49ers anthem, “Do It For The Bay,” from P-Lo and Saweetie, two homegrown Filipino American artists.

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4. Catch an episode of The Warner House — a podcast hosted by the team’s leading tackler Fred Warner and his wife, Sydney.

5. Listen to “Niners By Law,” a hyphy-era track by Jose Santana that features RBL Posse’s Black C and showcases the 49ers’ longstanding Black and Latino fan solidarity.

6. Blast this super-early rap song from 1982 about the Niners making their first-ever Super Bowl appearance.

7. Laugh at the time in 1991 when the 49ers tried to change their logo but were vetoed by fans and media — the first and only time a Bay Area team has been publicly shamed into abandoning a proposed design, which the team never wore after the press conference.

8. Dine at the Canyon Inn in Redwood City, a legendary 49ers hangout near the team’s old practice facility from the ’80s.

9. Hear fans say goodbye to Candlestick Park on its final night.

10. Swing by Final Final in SF’s Marina District and have a cocktail while sitting in actual seats from Candlestick Park.

11. Cringe at this eternally bad Jerry Rice Popeye’s commercial.

12. Hear defensive lineman Arik Armstead discuss his return to the field after sustaining an injury on his podcast, Third and Long.

13. Grab a brew at Candlestick Park Sports Bar on 3rd Street.

14. Become a member of Niner Empire — a local organization that’s united 49ers fans online since 2006.

15. Stroll around Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park, the original home of the 49ers.

16. Pop into the Kezar Pub for a pint of golden ale.

17. Read Colin Kaepernick’s graphic novel memoir, Change The Game, published by Kaepernick Publishing, a printing press focused on social justice and racial equity founded by the former 49ers quarterback.

Yonas Tesfai, 'Kaepernicks,' 2017.
Yonas Tesfai, ‘Kaepernicks,’ 2017. (Courtesy of the artist)

18. How serious are you about 49ers history? Live like a true 49er by visiting Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma, the original site of the Gold Rush.

19. Add a custom airbrushed 49ers hat to your collection from MadeByRila.

20. Make a funny Taylor Swift meme. (In case you’ve been cryogenically frozen for the past four months: she’s dating the opposing team’s tight end, Travis Kelce.)

21. Make a funny Travis Kelce meme while you’re at it.

22. Think of more nicknames for 49ers’ breakout quarterback Brock Purdy, whose Wikipedia page is now “semi-protected” due to an excessive amount of fan editing (Glock Purdy, Big ____ Brock, MVPurdy, Sturdy Purdy, etc.).

23. Eat at Flippy’s — an old-school, mom-and-pop diner in Rodeo decked out in vintage 49ers memorabilia.

24. Beef up your football knowledge by listening to The Richard Sherman Podcast from the Stanford grad and former 49ers cornerback.

25. Dust off your “Big Steppin’” dance moves with Stunnaman02’s 49ers Remix, a viral song that’s had rival opponents like Joe Mixon hitting the San Francisco-born dance.

26. Take in a view of the San Francisco Bay at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, the former site of the 49ers stadium in Hunters Point.

27. Watch The Ritual Killer, a low-budget crime thriller that has Morgan Freeman and former Niners tight end Vernon Davis — and a 9% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

28. Stop by Alex’s 49er Inn, a San Jose dive bar that shares a name with the team.

29. Read about the Alabama-based apparel company that popularized those gold satin 49ers jackets in the ’80s — and then disappeared.

30. Tune into the Puppy Bowl before the Super Bowl and support the Humane Society of Silicon Valley.

31. Pick up a Sourdough Sam T-shirt from Silicon Valley’s Coldwater, owned by three brothers.

32. Count the number of ads running now ’til the Super Bowl that feature All-Pro tight end George Kittle — including this semi-nude commercial for men’s swimwear.

33. Enjoy the lunacy of former head coach Jim Harbaugh in a tussle against opposing head coach Jim Schwartz in Detroit.

34. Drive by the Illuminaries’ “Faithful to the Bay” mural commissioned by the 49ers in San Jose.

35. Research the Trail of the Forty Niners, a literal trail forged across the United States by gold-seekers in 1849.

36. Celebrate with a pint of chicken and waffles ice cream made by longtime 49ers fan and ambassador E-40.

37. Brandon Lloyd used to play for San Francisco — watch the former wide receiver’s submission to MTV2’s Sucker Freestyles.

38. You can never watch enough of George Kittle and his on-field antics.

39. San Francisco-raised coach and Hall of Famer George Siefert was involved in every 49ers Super Bowl victory; listen to him talk about it.

40. Look at photos of former 49ers safety Ronnie Lott’s amputated finger after he broke his pinky finger mid-game against the Dallas Cowboys and elected to remove it rather than wait for the bone to heal.

41. Remember when Dirty Harry (played by Clint Eastwood) shot a man on a football field in San Francisco? That field was Kezar Stadium.

42. Retrace all of Clint Eastwood’s steps around The City while filming Dirty Harry.

43. Get a 49ers Betty Boop crewneck from this San Francisco designer.

44. Be a tourist and visit Ghiradelli Square to eat chocolate and take a selfie in front of the temporarily themed red-and-gold neon signage.

45. Drink a 40 oz. from 49’ERS Liquors & Groceries in the Mission.

46. Go all out and get a Niners-themed tattoo (I personally have one inspired by the iconic 1994 Niners uniform).

47. Watch The Catch. It never gets old.

48. Increase your game day stress by attending the biggest outdoor watch party for the Super Bowl.

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49. Shout “Bang Bang, Niner Gang” to a neighbor you’ve never interacted with before — until now.

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