49ers make it official: Two high school football games scheduled for Levi's Stadium

It's official: High school football teams will play regulation games at swank Levi's Stadium before the NFL does.

The San Francisco 49ers announced Tuesday that they will host two games Aug. 29, two weeks before the team's home opener with the Bears. The event is tagged, "Friday Night Lights."

San Francisco will play two exhibition games at Levi's before the high school doubleheader, which pits Manteca (Calif.) against Wilcox (Santa Clara) at 4:30 p.m., followed by Jesuit (Carmichael) versus De La Salle (Concord) at 8.

Not a bad place to start a season — the site of Super Bowl L.

"The 49ers are very pleased to play a role in bringing the Friday Night Lights matchups to Levi's Stadium," 49ers CEO Jed York said in a statement. "High school football is a great tradition that deserves to be played on the game's biggest stage, and we look forward to sharing a special experience with these young men, their coaches, family and friends."

The late game will be televised on ESPN2, according to De La Salle Athletic Director Leo Lopoz.

"This is a phenomenal opportunity for all four high school communities," Lopoz said. "To get to play in this brand new state-of-the-art stadium is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Lopoz said the 49ers contacted De La Salle a few months ago about the possibility of being part of the doubleheader.

The Spartans, ranked fifth in the MaxPreps National Preseason Top 25 announced Monday, had a nonleague game scheduled with Jesuit, coached by De La Salle graduate Marlon Blanton.

See the De La Salle Preseason Top 25 Photo Shoot

"It's obvious one of the York family's missions is to get involved and give back to the community," Lopoz said. "We were lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time. We had a game that worked out for the date and we proceeded with the discussions."

General admission prices are $20, but only $5 for students 18 and under. Virtually all the amenities an NFL fan gets at a 49ers' game, the high school fan will receive as well. Considering year-round tours of the stadium start at $25, game tickets for Friday Night Lights are indeed a bargain.

Guesses at attendance have started at about 20,000.

"The 49ers have been gracious enough to really do this right, and at a very affordable price," Lopoz said. "This is a great opportunity for fans to get a sneak peak at a beautiful place."

The games also take place a week after the movie release of "When the Game Stands Tall," the De La Salle football film based on a book by the same name and staring Jim Caviezel, Michael Chiklis and Laura Dern.

Watch the trailer for "When the Game Stands Tall"

A Hollywood film and nationally televised game in a brand new NFL stadium all in a single week?

That's a wealth of exposure for single high school that once struggled badly in athletics heading into the 1980s.

"It's not why we do things or why we have ever done anything," Lopoz said. "Our philosophy has always been geared to what is best for the student athlete. That said, this is definitely a win-win situation for us and we feel extremely lucky and blessed to have these opportunities."