49ers Start Preseason Against Minnesota Vikings Tonight

By Bay City News Service

The San Francisco 49ers will play their first preseason game this year when they host the Minnesota Vikings at Candlestick Park today. The 6 p.m. game is one of four preseason matchups San Francisco faces before the team's regular season schedule starts on Sept. 9.

The last time the 49ers hosted a game at Candlestick Park was last January's heartbreaking 20-17 overtime loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has brought many players back from that team but this year's squad also has some new faces, including wide receiver Randy Moss, who will be making his debut against Minnesota, the team on which he started his illustrious career.

Today's game will be part of a busy night in San Francisco -- the city's pro baseball team, the Giants, will also be playing a home game at AT&T Park while tens of thousands of people will be in Golden Gate Park for the start of the annual Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. There will be express bus shuttles offered by San Francisco Municipal Railway to Candlestick Park from five different locations around the city. For more information about the shuttles, visit www.sfmta.com.