49ers plan Colorado training week ahead of Mexico City game
Coach Kyle Shanahan expects time at altitude to help his team prepare to face the Vikings at Estadio Azteca.
The 49ers will travel directly from Dallas to Colorado Springs after their November 15 game, spending a week preparing at altitude before facing the Vikings in Mexico City. They will train at Air Force’s facilities rather than return home.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said he believes the adjustment period can give his players a small advantage at Estadio Azteca. Drawing on his experience growing up mainly in Denver, he said even physically fit athletes need time to adapt to the elevation, though he does not consider that preparation decisive.
Estadio Azteca stands at 7,280 feet, the greatest elevation of any stadium used by the NFL. Air Force’s Falcon Stadium sits at 6,621 feet. Shanahan thanked Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun for making the practice facilities available, repeating an arrangement used before the 49ers played in Mexico City in 2022.
The Vikings matchup will mark the 49ers’ second international appearance of the season. For their season opener against the Rams in Australia, they also arrived a week ahead of the game, allowing time to adjust to the time difference.
