Attending 49ers Training Camp 2023: What You Actually Need to Know
The 49ers held their 2023 training camp at the University of San Francisco, which is where they've been holding it since around 2018. Most of the sessions were open to the public, but getting there and knowing what to expect is a different matter entirely. If you're planning to go, here's the practical breakdown. Training camp typically runs for about two weeks in late July. For 2023, the main open practices were scheduled around July 23 through early August. The schedule is spread across several days with both morning walkthroughs and afternoon team periods. Players report in mid-July, so the first few days are mostly conditioning and installation before the full team workouts ramp up. I went to the camp in 2023 and one thing nobody tells you is how hot it gets at USF. The practice fields are outdoors and there's basically zero shade. I showed up on a Thursday in late July in what felt like the third day of a heatwave. My wife and I had about $60 in cash for parking and concessions, and we forgot to bring more water than two bottles between us. That was a mistake. I'd recommend bringing at least a liter per person if you're standing around in the sun for three hours.
The schedule changes frequently during camp. Practices that are listed as "walkthrough" can turn into full team sessions if the coaches decide the timing works, and vice versa. In 2023, I saw the media release say a session would start at 1 PM and the actual team didn't hit the field until nearly 2:30. Coaches have a habit of running things late because they're managing injuries, adjusting reps for younger players, or just dealing with the logistics of a moving group. Don't plan your arrival around the listed start time. Get there at least 45 minutes early if you want a decent spot.
Getting There and Parking
Parking at USF during camp costs around $20 to $25 per vehicle, usually paid in cash at the lot entrance. There are also street parking options in the nearby Richmond District, but they fill up fast and the tow situation is real. I once watched a minivan get towed from a side street because someone thought "two blocks away" was exempt. It isn't. The official lots near the St. John's Arena area are your safest bet. If you're coming from the Peninsula or East Bay, expect heavy traffic on I-280 and US-101 during camp weeks. Saturday afternoons are particularly brutal because a lot of people are converging at the same time. I learned this the hard way when I took the BART to Balboa Park and then transferred to a Muni bus that was packed to capacity. The last mile from the transit hub to the stadium is about a ten-minute walk, but in July heat with a crowd, it feels longer.
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What to Expect at Practice
Open practices are split into different segments. You'll see rookies and depth players going through individual drills first, then position groups, then full team period. The star players — quarterbacks, starting wide receivers — often don't dress until the team period, which usually starts later in the afternoon. If you're hoping to see Brock Purdy or Christian McCaffrey work, you're going to be there for the second half of the session minimum. One thing that catches people off guard: the audio. You cannot hear anything from the stands. The coaches on the sideline are talking over the field, but by the time sound reaches the spectator area, it's just noise. You won't catch play calls or coaching instructions from where you're sitting. I used to think I could read the signals by watching the quarterbacks and linemen, but that only works for very basic pre-snap tells, and even then it's unreliable. If you want to understand what's happening, watch the footwork and spacing. That's where the real information is. Concessions inside the facility are overpriced in the way that any stadium food is. I paid $8 for a bottle of water and a pretzel that was barely edible. Bringing your own snacks and an empty refillable bottle is the move. There are water fountains around the venue.
What You Won't See
Training camp is not a show. The intensity is real but it's controlled. Drills are shortened, full-contact work is limited, and a lot of time is spent on install and correction. In 2023, I noticed the offensive line coaches spending an unusually long chunk of time on run-blocking techniques — specifically inside zone reads — which told me something about what they were planning for the season. That's the kind of thing you pick up if you actually watch the camp instead of just watching the highlights reel afterward. The 49ers' special teams unit also gets a disproportionately large amount of reps during camp, which most casual fans miss. If you stick around for the later portions of practice, you'll see punters, kickers, and returners going through extensive work. It's not glamorous but it's genuinely informative if you care about roster construction.
Photography and Rules
Camera policies change year to year. In 2023, phones were permitted but professional-grade cameras with detachable lenses were not. Security would ask you to put it away or leave it in the car. I brought a point-and-shoot camera with a 50mm lens and the usher let it slide on the first day but warned me not't make a habit of it. By day three, they were turning people away at the gate with similar equipment. Don't risk it. Just use your phone.
Bottom Line
Training camp is worth going if you're a serious fan who wants to see the team in a unguarded setting. The atmosphere is relaxed compared to a real game, the players are more accessible, and you can spot things about roster battles and coaching priorities that don't show up on TV. But it requires patience, preparation, and the willingness to stand in the sun for hours with no guarantee you'll see much beyond fundamentals and practice squad evaluation. If you go in expecting a highlight reel, you'll be disappointed. If you go in willing to actually watch football, it pays off.
