SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KRON) — The 49ers are getting ready to host the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. While the stadium is expected to be packed with hundreds of the Niners’ Faithful, one family won’t be there.
The mom of that family is in a wheelchair, and she says finding ADA accessible seating at the stadium has become incredibly difficult.
When the family got the news this year that their mom would be in a wheelchair, they had to deal with months of therapy and uncertainty.
So they were really looking forward to this 49ers season — only to find out that finding ADA seating was nearly five times as expensive as normal tickets.
Jennifer Reyes and her husband, Angel, have been to Levi’s Stadium many times.
“One thing I was really looking forward to was sports with my kids,” Jennifer said. “It’s just something we look forward to every year, take all the grandkids.
They even have their own fan cave at home. But these super fans have not been to any home game this season. It all began with a neurological disease diagnosis that put Jennifer in a wheelchair.
“Just happened to me just this year,” she said. ” I spent most of this summer in the hospital at Valley Med.”
The doctor’s orders were to try returning to normalcy. That’s when Jennifer tried to look for ADA section seating at Levi’s Stadium. Hoping to bring her family together and make good memories after what’s been a complicated year.
Jennifer says some of the available ADA seating was up to $700. Jennifer added that the 49ers did not respond to her initial complaints about ADA access until she sent her third email.
Emails from the 49ers’ fan services to Reyes say most of the ADA seating is held by season ticket holders — adding any other available ADA seating as a hot commodity.
“We believe everyone should be able to enjoy events at Levi’s Stadium regardless of their accommodation requirements, and are typically able to address the majority of accessible seating needs,” the 49ers said in a statement to KRON4.
They did not answer our questions about ADA seat availability or if the stadium is planning to install more ADA seating with the Super Bowl coming up and World Cup games.
Jennifer’s husband says they still hope to go to a 49ers game this season and that the organization makes it easier.
“Hopefully, they do reach out and do something to help what’s wrong with their ADA seating,” Angel said.
“If you recognize something and be the change, it doesn’t hurt to try,” Jennifer said.
Jennifer says there is no cure for her disease, and some people never get out of their wheelchairs. But she is responding well to physical therapy and has a chance of getting out of her wheelchair in about a year.
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