Diehard 49ers Fans
Serving fellow Faithful
since 2006!

We are a global not for profit organization bringing Niner fans together and empowering a true sense of camaraderie. Collectively we live a better fan experience.

Our Vision

To be the premier fan organization for the San Francisco 49ers, recognized for our vibrant community, exceptional events, and unwavering support for our team.

Our Mission

To serve the Faithful by promoting a positive and inclusive community, that encourages respectful behavior towards enhancing a better fan experience.

Our Process

Partner with reputable service providers and sponsors to enhance the fan experience without adding additional costs to the individual fan.

Our Core Values

  1. Passion: Our love for the San Francisco 49ers drives everything we do.
  2. Community: We believe in the strength of unity, and the power of bringing fans together.
  3. Respect: We promote a culture of respect, inclusivity, and support.
  4. Innovation: We continually seek new and creative ways to enhance the fan experience.
  5. Sustainability: We strive to create a balanced approach that fosters long-term and generational enthusiasm.
Thanks to our
Partners, Sponsors, & Affiliates
who help us make it happen

Our History
- Roots

JOHN MADDEN SET THE FUSE
 
It was John Madden who said the 49ers were like the Roman Empire, during a 1994 Monday Night Football game against the Raiders, as Jerry Rice broke the touchdown record. Fans caught on to it and you would hear calls into KNBR sports talk radio saying we are an Empire. That year we went on to win our 5th Super Bowl.
 

ORIGIN OF THE NINER EMPIRE

The “Empire” name did not catch on until over a decade later during some of our darkest days since the dynasty era. It was around 2005 at Candlestick Park when a Diehard fan named “AJ Esperanza” started the 49er Empire. Little did he know, he had ignited the global fan movement we know today.

Respectfully, Esperanza is recognized by 49ers fans as the “Founder of the 49er/Niner Empire” movement. If you called him out on that, don’t be surprised by his response, “I’m just a fan”, a statement that holds true at the root of The Niner Empire Organization, as we carry on the Eddie Debartolo family legacy in altruistic fashion.

Our History
- Growth

THE MOVEMENT WENT TO WORK
 
It was before the social media explosion, when fans took it upon themselves to unite the 49er fan base. Diehard fan, Rajeev Prasad, who recently had moved outside of the Bay Area and felt the loneliness of being a 49ers fan away from home, built this fan resource website. The goal for the site was specifically to connect fans with everything any 49ers fan might look for. It soon became a hub for fans and groups from all over the world. Esperanza and his newfound movement leveraged the platform to connect isolated fans, and invited them to join The Niner Empire movement. Fans, vendors, and service providers were soon sharing their information and quickly transformed the group into a thriving community that quickly took on a life of its own.
 
 

SERVICE AT OUR  FOUNDATION

Rajeev “Raj” Prasad, is the founder of the Niner Empire Organization as we know it today. A Marine Corps veteran who went on to become a music producer, and a 20+ year voting member of the “Grammies” with the Recording Academy. His dedication to service and bringing people together along with Espernaza’s own commitment to service, naturally found it’s place within the core foundation of The Niner Empire Organization.

The Best Part - We're Always Here
Our Record Has Never Mattered

Represent With Class - It's Not For Everyone

Over the years:

  • 2005 – The 49er/Niner Empire group is started by AJ Esperanza at Candlestick Park during some dismal years for our team and the movement begins to get established as fans from outside the group begin to join in.
  • 2006 – It took living outside the bay area to recognize the loneliness that a 49er fan feels. Diehard fan Rajeev Prasad built a fan resource website specifically for 49er fans to connect on and share their love for their team. It was before the social media explosion and at the time the domain name www.ninerempire.com was available for $2,500 obviously way outside of the budget of a hobby, so www.theninerempire.com came alive at the start of that season.
  • 2006 – Since booster clubs were few and far between, AJ Esperanza and his newfound movement found fans and groups online and made it a community effort to invite them to join website, fans would share their info to be posted on the site for other fans to find.
  • 2010 – Diehards Robert Vinton of Fresno, CA. and Kevin Mews of Hawaii came on board as Social Media managers boosting the awareness of the Niner Empire movement even deeper into the fan base.
  • 2012 – Diehard from Arizona, Denise Hines learned of the fan outreach and came on board as TNE ORG’s Marketing Manager.
  • 2013 – January of 2013 at the NFC Championship game in Atlanta when 49er fans from all over congregated at one tailgate hosted by David Kahn and his wife in the Yellow Lot right after they were seen and tweeted about by Jed York. It was just the beginning of what was to come for away games.
  • 2013 – Diehard from Germany, André “Keiner” Theunert joined TNE ORG founding Niner Empire Germany and became our international liaison for 49er fans from around the world.
  • 2013 – After years of requests, TNE ORG begins research into building a membership program to help the website become self sustaining while continuing to enhance the fan experience.
  • 2014 – With complete transparency as a not for profit group with the team we love, the entire details of the Membership Program plans were shared with the 49ers Organization. They loved the concept and the TNE ORG Membership Program was successfully launched.
  • 2014 – Danny Ramirez of the DFW chapter along with the Spartans David Kahn & Pedro Torales from the Atlanta, GA area hosted the first ever official “Takeover” in Dallas, TX. Away Game events was evolving and 49ers fans were hungry for it.
  • 2014 – The Niner Empire movement gained major recognition when it got coverage by national news media as 49er fans took over Dallas Cowboys stadium turning it into what looked and felt like a 49er home.
  • 2014 – During Levis Stadium’s inaugural year’s end of the season Tailgate Competition, AJ posted “Empire Row” which sparked an idea to bring the Candlestick vibe to Levi’s.
  • 2015 – AJ and Raj of TNE ORG initially brought together Candlestick Tailgaters, Mine 49, The Red Zone Tailgate, and La Klicka to create “EMPIRE ROW” Tailgate with a focus to bring the flavor of Candlestick back in the air and creating a place that is welcoming to all traveling fans to call home. It quickly became the place to visit even for opposing team fans to have a great time.
  • 2015 – Mid-season, the Thursday Night Football Bus parked next to the EMPIRE ROW TAILGATE and broadcast the entire pregame nationally with clips throughout the game of how 49ers fans represent. Always With Class!
  • 2015 – Raj & Denise of TNE Org set up the first Invasion event with blessings from the 49ers front office who joined us with their team handing out Faithful scarves to the Faithful just in time for the Chicago chill. Chicago Invasion 2015<