Site of Candlestick Park

Candlestick Park holds the distinction of being the first professional stadium in North America built entirely from reinforced concrete using prefabricated segments. Rather than being poured on-site, the massive structure was assembled much like a giant construction toy. This modern engineering approach relied on a foundation of solid rock at Candlestick Point, which proved unexpectedly beneficial during the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989. When the magnitude 6.9 tremor struck just minutes before a World Series game, the stadium swayed and groaned under the force, but the structural integrity of its pre-cast design held firm, protecting the thousands of fans inside.