SACRAMENTO, CA - When an Amador Stage Lines bus pulled out of Sacramento for Candlestick Park on Sunday, no one on the bus had a ticket to the NFC Championship game; they were going for the experience.
"Just being surrounded by the Niners faithful fans, just the whole Candlestick, man it's indescribable," 49er fan Joe Stewart said. "I didn't get a ticket, but I'd rather be there than on my couch."
The last time the 49ers competed in the NFC Championship was 15 years ago, some of the fans on the bus were too young to remember.
"I have been a Niners fan since the womb," Cameron Murray said. "My mother, my grandfather, my uncles, always Niners fans. Red and gold. Lifelong."
Once the bus approached the Bay Bridge, traffic began to slow down, but it didn't dampen the spirits. Nearly three hours after leaving Sacramento, the bus pulled into Candlestick Park.
Lisa Allen, who organized the bus trip from Sacramento, said it was her first time going to a 49ers tailgate.
"I grew up watching it, every single time, every Sunday we watched it," Allen said. "I am a hardcore Niners fan."
Marquise Jones was able to get the "golden ticket" after seeing his friend's father during the tailgate at Candlestick Park.
I'm like truly blessed," Jones said. "It's crazy. I'm from this city. I've been a Niner fan since I was born. This is a dream come true. I'm so shocked, I'm stunned."
Jones got two tickets and brought another friend from the bus trip to the game.
When they left for their stadium seats, the rest of the Sacramento group went to a bar in downtown San Francisco to watch the game.
News10/KXTV