49er fans cheer at official Niners playoff parties in San Francisco and San Jose

As the clock ticked down the Photoniners’ 19:12 playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys, hoarse cheers and the unmistakable sound of a foghorn echoed off the glass and concrete of downtown San Francisco’s tallest buildings.

“What a game!” Kyle Martinez, a student at the University of San Francisco, exclaimed. “I almost had a heart attack, I won’t lie!”

Martinez and his friends wore their warmest 49ers gear as they watched the game on giant LED screens at one of the official Niners playoff parties. It took place at an outdoor event site called The Crossing at East Cut, on the site of the former temporary Transbay terminal.

“We know that San Francisco is our namesake, so we want to create an atmosphere in San Francisco that is similar to Levi’s Stadium,” said 49ers Senior Fan Relations Manager Nick Clark. “You’ll hear some of the sounds you’ll hear in Levi’s Stadium – not just the cheering from the fans, but some of the touchdown songs and the starting lineup and stuff like that.”

San Francisco is one of three cities where the 49ers host official parties throughout the NFL playoffs. Not far from Levays Stadium, they also welcome fans at the San Pedro Social in San Jose, and after the Niners played in Mexico City last November, the team wanted to host playoff parties there. Parties include gifts at the entrance and draws for special prizes, including autographed memorabilia.

“We know there are millions of 49ers fans and we only have 70,000 seats here, so what can we do other than Levi’s stadium? That’s where it comes with hour-long parties,” Clarke said. “We want people to wear red, sound loud and bring energy.”

In San Francisco, the team’s wish came true. Fans in new and vintage 49ers gear showed up in wool hats and blankets and crowded around the patio heaters, but once the Niners started to score, the cold weather seemed the furthest thing from anyone.

“Dude, I’ve been a 49er fan since I was a kid,” a fan named Alejandro told us. “I had an older cousin who tried to turn me into a Raider fan. Did not work! … I’ve never heard of a 49er fan leaving to cheer for another team. But everyone wants to cheer for us!”

The 49ers will host their next round of hour-long parties on Sunday, January 29, when the team takes on the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC Championship at noon PT.