Everything you need to know about the San Francisco 49ers following fresh investment in Leeds United

Don't know much about the San Francisco 49ers? Here's our profile to get you up to speed...
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Leeds United majority owner Andrea Radrizzani has sold a further stake in the Elland Road club to NFL giants San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers initially invested in the Whites in the summer of 2018 and have now increased their shareholding to 37 per cent for a reported £50m following the club's promotion to the Premier League last summer.

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The new investment will also see Paraag Marathe, 49ers Enterprises president and current Leeds board member, become the vice chairman of Leeds United.

San Francisco 49ers increase stake in Leeds United. Pic: GettySan Francisco 49ers increase stake in Leeds United. Pic: Getty
San Francisco 49ers increase stake in Leeds United. Pic: Getty

Here's what you need to know about the 49ers...

Who are the San Francisco 49ers?

The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team from the San Francisco Bay Area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) and are a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the West division.

They play their home games at Levi Stadium, which opened in 2014, and is located 45 miles south of San Francisco in the Silicon Valley. The headquarters for the franchise is based in Santa Clara and has been since 1988.

A quick look at the 49ers history...

The San Francisco 49ers were founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference before the club joined the NFL in 1949 as the league merged. The 49ers were one of the first professional sports teams based in the city and the team took their name from the 1849 Gold Rush in California.

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Super Bowls - The 49ers have won five Super Bowls with the first coming in 1981 and the last in 1995. Hall of fame quarterback Joe Montana led San Francisco to their first two Super Bowl victories in 1981 and 1984.

They then won back to back titles four years later in 1988 and 1989 following the arrival of the greatest wide receiver to ever play the game, Jerry Rice. Montana again led the charge having been told by doctors in 1987 that he should retire after a serious back injury.

Their fifth and final Super Bowl victory came in the 1994/95 season, as Steve Young led the 49ers to victory over the San Diego Chargers in Miami 49-26.

They reached the Super Bowl in 2011/12 and 2019/20 most recently, but lost on both occasions.

Who are the San Francisco 49ers owned by?

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Jed York is an American sports executive who is the current CEO of the San Francisco 49ers. York is the nephew of former owner Edward J. DeBartolo Jr with the team having a net worth of $1.1 billion.

When did the San Francisco 49ers first invest in Leeds United?

In the summer of 2018, 49ers Enterprises, a subsidiary of the NFL franchise, purchased a little more than a 10 percent stake in the Elland Road club and appointed its president Paraag Marathe to United’s board after agreeing an equity deal with Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani.

Levi Stadium - why the 49ers lead the way on the stadium front

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In 2014 the San Francisco 49ers unveiled their brand new state of the art open air 68,500 stadium to replace the outgoing Candlestick Park, where they had hosted home games since 1971.

The stadium is expandable to 75,000 for big events such as World Cup games or Super Bowls, which they hosted in 2016, and Leeds United board member Paraag Marathe played a key role in the development of the plans.

Levi Stadium is known for being one of the most technologically advanced venues in the world to watch sport and cost around $1.2 billion to build. The 49ers installed WIFI and 4G antennas from their sponsored carriers throughout the stadium which visitors can connect to.

They also produced their very own app which has revolutionised the way sport is watched live in San Francisco. The app can guide people to the closest car park to their entrance gate and, once inside, can also guide them to their seats. Fans can also watch live instant replays during games via the app from the broadcast coverage and also access live in-game stats.

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Fans can also order food and drink to be delivered to any seat in the venue. An express option is also available in which fans can collect their order in person having already purchased their snacks and beverages.

Perhaps, though, the real party trick of the app is the ability to navigate you to the closest toilet to your seat with the shortest queue. Users of the app can also report issues in the stadium from spillages to crimes.

The stadium is also one of the most environmentally friendly in the USA with the 49ers having installed solar panels throughout and received a gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certificate for its use of recyclable materials.

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