49ers curb tailgating, call for end to Raiders series

SAN FRANCISCO ? The preseason series between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders, which dates back to 1967, should be postponed indefinitely in light of last weekend's violence at Candlestick Park, 49ers President Jed York said Monday.

Three fans were sent to a hospital, two with life-threatening injuries, from incidents during or shortly after the game. Two of the incidents involved gun violence and the third one a severe beating.

Calling such behavior "degenerate," York said the NFL should stop scheduling such exhibitions. The 49ers and Raiders have met in the preseason each of the last 11 years and 39 times altogether. They play every four years in the regular season.

"This is a game where you have a rivalry situation, and unfortunately you have the worst segment, a very small segment, from both fan bases," York said. "It's our belief we should recommend to the NFL that this game is at least postponed for some period."

Police chief Greg Suhr was concerned enough about the evening game that he ordered a 10% increase in police presence despite a turnstile count of about 47,000 that was about one-third short of a full house. As the game progressed and fights in the stands multiplied, the police force was boosted by an additional 30%.

Suhr said the level of violence Saturday was "an aberration," and cited statistics such as 70 ejections, 12 criminal arrests when there are usually one or two, and 19 arrests for public intoxication, compared to the usual six to eight. 6-to-8.

"This game was like no other I can ever remember," Suhr said, "and I have been a Niner fan my whole life.''

Suhr said the three victims in the hospital had been upgraded to fair condition, and a person of interest has been detained. Suhr joined with 49ers executives in assuring fans that games at Candlestick Park are safe.

They also announced a number of security measures that will go into effect right away, including:

• Limiting tailgating to the four-hour period before kickoff. No tailgating will be allowed during or after games.

• Stronger alcohol management. Beer sales are already cut off at the end of three quarters.

• Establishing DUI checkpoints after the game.

• An increased law-enforcement presence both from the police and private security starting this Saturday, when the 49ers host the Houston Texans in a 5 p.m. game.

• Improving lighting in the parking lot, where the two shootings occurred.

• Demanding more accountability from season-ticket holders who give away or sell their tickets.

York said the different makeup of the crowd at preseason games, with many fans buying inexpensive tickets online, contributed to Saturday's troubles.

"In a preseason game you see a wider group of people who aren't necessarily fans coming to games," York said. "And I think with this rivalry's close proximity, when you look at the incidents, it makes sense to recommend not playing that game or maybe playing it early in the afternoon."

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