Paul McCartney to Play “Farewell to Candlestick” Concert

The rumors are true. Candlestick Park’s swan song will be sung by a Beatle.

Paul McCartney confirmed he has added a show at Candlestick to round out his "Out There" world tour.

The show, set for August 14, 2014, will be the last concert ever at the Stick before it's demolished.

Tickets for the concert go on sale May 5, but prices haven’t been set. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said he wanted the tickets to be “affordable.” They are expected to range from $50 to $275.

Candlestick Park was the site of The Beatles’ final ticketed concert back on August 29, 1966. Tickets to the Beatles’ 1966 Candlestick gig started at $4.50, with box seats going for $6.50.

In the decades since the stadium’s 1961 opening, it’s hosted everyone from the Giants to the 49ers to a Pope to the Rolling Stones.

McCartney last performed in San Francisco at this past summer’s Outside Lands festival in Golden Gate Park. It was then that the former Beatle told San Francisco city leaders he’d be interested in playing a sendoff show at the Stick.

Earlier this month, the Chronicle reported Levi’s Stadium and the 49ers were also interested in landing McCartney, to play an inaugural concert at the new Santa Clara venue. Team officials said that the idea of a Levi's show was promoter Live Nation's, according to the newspaper.

The “Farewell to Candlestick” concert is being promoted by Bay Area-based Another Planet Entertainment. APE’s Gregg Perloff says Candlestick holds a sentimental place for McCartney.

“One thing about Paul McCartney is, he has a sense of history and he understands how historic this will be,” Perloff said. “And for him, he’s very emotional about having played Candlestick before.”

Perloff said the stadium will hold 45,000 people for the concert. The stage will sit on the grass at the north end zone, where 49ers legend Dwight Clark hauled in the famous “Catch” in 1982.

Candlestick Park is scheduled to be demolished sometime at the end of this year or early next year to make way for San Francisco-based developer Lennar Urban's plans for a mixed-use housing and commercial development on the site.

The San Francisco 49ers, who have played at Candlestick since 1971, are moving to the new $1.2 billion Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara for the upcoming NFL season.

The city is planning several other farewell events for Candlestick between now and August.

The final game to ever be played at Candlestick will be an exhibition held on July 12, with 49er favorites Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig and Dwight Clark taking on NFL Hall of Famer Dan Marino from the Miami Dolphins and other all-stars in a "Legends of Candlestick" flag football game.

Ahead of the legends' game, San Francisco police will take on the city's Fire Department.

The game is part of the city's Recreation and Park Department's "Last Summer at the Stick" series.

Tickets for the all-star flag football game will be available starting May 10 at ticketmaster.com. Tickets range from $30 to $50.

The city is also planning a free day, where the public is invited to walk the field.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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