Funny how five months and no games can radically change the vibe of a franchise. The 49ers, after a three-season tailspin, evoked optimism Wednesday night at a “State of the Franchise” event that attracted some 1,000 fans to the Santa Clara Convention Center.
It started with CEO Jed York drawing tempered applause, a nod to his latest overhaul. Standing ovations soon followed for the new regime of general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan. Ultimately stealing the two-hour show were veterans-turned-comics Joe Staley and NaVorro Bowman – “The Joe and Bo Show,” as it were.
Here is what we learned from — and at times laughed about – in a fan-outreach event last held in 2010, amid the ill-fated Mike Singletary era:
— Stadium signage: Levi’s Stadium finally will show off the 49ers’ storied tradition.