49ers fans trapped in 'worst traffic jam in Levi's Stadium history'

As thousands of fans descended on Levi’s Stadium to watch the 49ers and Cowboys face off in the divisional round of the playoffs, the roads in Santa Clara quickly filled with

cars. Hours before the opening kickoff, vehicles surrounding the stadium were stuck in a massive traffic jam. Bay Area News Group 49ers beat writer Cam Inman was one of many

reporters who tweeted that Sunday’s was the “worst traffic jam in Levi’s Stadium history.” Niners Nation contributor Jordan Elliott told SFGATE that it took him more than

an hour to travel the 1-2 miles from the freeway exit to the parking lot for the game. According to Elliott, there were no visible traffic coordination efforts to address the

situation. While Sunday’s traffic mayhem appears to have reached a new level, this is far from the first time Santa Clara’s roadways have been clogged by a 49ers game. It’s

an inevitable outcome of having an NFL stadium in a dense, residential suburb dozens of miles from San Francisco. Santa Clara has previously had to issue traffic advisories for

49ers games, including preseason matchups. The 49ers and Santa Clara County have a tense relationship. 49ers owner and CEO Jed York has poured millions of dollars into

local elections, attempting to elect officials more favorable to the team. However, the Niners’ preferred mayoral candidate was defeated last November despite an 8-1 fundraising

advantage.