Buckets of rain, minor flooding no match for 49ers tailgate

Jan. 14, 2023Updated: Jan. 14, 2023 3:32 p.m.

Not all of the San Francisco 49ers fans attending Saturday’s wild-card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks were afraid of the rainy weather that awaited them at Levi’s Stadium. In fact, as evidenced by the tailgating scene ahead of the game, the rain was more of an afterthought.

Though the wet weather briefly subsided on Saturday morning, it came back in full force about an hour before game time, causing many who had already made it inside the stadium to seek temporary cover.

Fans tailgate at Levi’s Stadium before an NFL wild-card playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday.

Josie Lepe/Associated Press

In the parking lots of the stadium, though, the party just kept going — even as the rain got strong enough to cause slight flooding.

The 49ers faithful were all smiles ahead of the team’s third trip to the playoffs during the Kyle Shanahan era.

49eMark and Derek Rios at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, on Saturday Jan. 14, 2023.

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Jeremy Vasquez at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, on Saturday Jan. 14, 2023.

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Staying dry at a hotdog cart during heavy rain, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, on Saturday Jan. 14, 2023.

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Anthony Paredes and Catherine Flores at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, on Saturday Jan. 14, 2023.

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San Francisco 49ers fans tailgate at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., before the Niners’ playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE) San Francisco 49ers fans tailgate at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., before the Niners’ playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. (Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE)

Saturday’s game is the third time that the Niners and Seahawks meet on the football field in 2022-23, having matched up twice in the regular season due to the fact that both are part of the NFC West division. This will also be an opportunity for San Francisco to pull off three wins against the same team in one season, a difficult but doable task. Teams that are 2-0 against an opponent in the regular season are 15-9 during their third meeting in the playoffs.

Saturday’s pregame reiterated that the Niners have a die-hard fan base ready to cheer them on for as long as this postseason run lasts.

Carlos Gonzalez, @dee_408 and Joe Romero show support for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday.

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Stacy Samuels, aka Banjo Man, holds his banjo at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday.

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San Francisco 49ers fans pose for a photo at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday before the 49ers-Seahawks wild-card game.

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From right, Robert Chavez Jr., Ceasar Chavez and Juan Juanavila show off their San Francisco 49ers gear at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday.

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“Rhino 49er” stands with his Seahawk at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday for the NFL wild-card game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks.

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Oscar Herrera, left, and Frank Reymundo pose for a photo at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday ahead of the NFL playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks.

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Joe Yturralde shows support for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday.

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Abraham Alvares tailgates at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday before the San Francisco 49ers face the Seattle Seahawks in a first-round playoff game.

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Amid rain showers, Gustavo Gonzalez and Ricardo Barraga tailgate at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday for the 49ers-Seahawks matchup.

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From right, Carlos Anthony, Felix Moreno, Angel Laureano and Raul Diazat tailgate at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday ahead of the San Francisco 49ers’ game against the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round.

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Richard Marfil shows support for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday.

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San Francisco 49ers fans dance to DJ Mike D of Bayology at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday before the 49ers-Seahawks playoff game.

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Stephan Ramirez of Bayology shows support for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday ahead of the Niners’ matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

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Richard Curiel, a 27-year 49ers season ticket holder, tailgates at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday before the Niners face the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

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Clarence Martinez, right, and Javier Holder boast San Francisco 49ers gear at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday ahead of the Niners’ playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks.

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Rain showers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday did not stop tailgaters ahead of the 49ers-Seahawks playoff game.

Lance Yamamoto/SFGATE

Rain showers hit Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday ahead of the San Francisco 49ers’ playoff matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

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Rigo Ramriez stands amid tailgates for the 49ers-Seahawks matchup at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday.

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Gabe Fernandez is a sports reporter for SFGATE. You can reach him at gabe.fernandez@sfgate.com.