Preparations Underway For Sir Paul McCartney Concert, Final Event At Candlestick Park
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- Crews were busy setting up Wednesday for Thursday's final event at Candlestick Park, a concert by Sir Paul McCartney.
Around 49,000 fans are coming to say hello again to McCartney, and goodbye forever to the ballpark.
"I'm so excited - once in a lifetime to see him and you know they are taking away Candlestick. It's an event," said Courtney Squier, who is attending Thursday's show.
FAREWELL TO CANDLESTICK
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So much history has taken place at Candlestick, including the Giants, the 49ers, The Catch, Pope John Paul II's visit, along with The Beatles last ever live concert in 1966.
Now, former Sir Paul McCartney is back for a final goodbye, thanks in part to some personal lobbying by Mayor Ed Lee.
"We were backstage at Outside Lands. Mayor Lee comes in for a little photo opportunity, and he says, 'By the way, we're going to be closing Candlestick Park next year. How about being the last performer?'" said Gregg Perloff of Another Planet Entertainment.
To everyone's amazement, McCartney agreed. And although the 49ers tried to lure Sir Paul away as the opening act of their new stadium in Santa Clara, McCartney stuck with San Francisco and the 'Stick.
"He understands historic moments," Perloff said.
So now, 36 semi-trucks of equipment are rolling in, and the giant stage is going up.
"There are already people waiting in line for a reserved seat show a day earlier," Perloff said. "What he wants to do is to make the date special - so he's bringing in some special video - some special pyrotechnics - don't want to give it all away."
Since Thursday's concert is the last event at Candlestick, the grass on the field won't be covered.
