Kinder, gentler 49ers: Fans allowed closer view of practice

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SANTA CLARA – Several hundred fans were in attendance for the 49ers’ first padded practice of training camp.

But once the 49ers broke into the 11-on-11 portion of practice Sunday, all the action took place on the field furthest away from where the bleachers were set up.

It’s a situation that has played out plenty of times in the past. The 49ers rotate practice fields, and some days those in the small grouping of bleachers have a great view of the action. On other days it’s nearly impossible to see what’s happening on a faraway field.

But something happened Sunday that was a stark departure from the past.

General manager John Lynch personally invited the fans to walk onto the unused practice field for a closer view. Lynch confirmed that coach Kyle Shahanan felt bad the fans were so far away. Lynch went over to the fans to deliver the message that they were allowed on the other side of the ropes, where they could stand along the sideline.

A limited number of fans are able to watch practice during training camp because there is not much spare space on the sidelines and end zones at the 49ers’ practice facility. The team’s only practice that is open to the general public is scheduled for next Saturday at Levi’s Stadium.

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