Kyle Shanahan believes the 49ers can give themselves a small but meaningful edge by spending a week at altitude before their Mexico City game, with the team flying to Colorado Springs after the Dallas game and using Air Force’s practice facility to prepare for next Sunday night.
It is the 49ers’ second international game of the season, and the schedule has been built around acclimatising to conditions before they face the Vikings in Mexico City at Estadio Azteca. The stadium sits at 7,280 feet, higher than Denver, and Shanahan has made clear he thinks the extra time could matter.
Why the 49ers are making the trip
Shanahan put it simply: “I think it helps,” and then expanded on why altitude matters for a travelling team. He said he grew up mainly in Denver and knows how quickly the air can affect even well-conditioned athletes. “No matter how good of shape you’re in, you come home from college and you run up the stairs and you’re out of breath,” he said.
That is the logic behind the week in Colorado Springs. The 49ers used the same approach in 2022 before their Mexico City game, and this time they will again be working at altitude rather than waiting until they arrive in Mexico. Shanahan added that Mexico City is higher than Denver and that while the move is “not make or break”, it should still leave the team “a couple percent better”.
What Estadio Azteca changes
The altitude issue is not just a talking point for visiting teams; it is a real part of the challenge at Estadio Azteca. The source notes that it is the highest stadium the NFL ever plays in, which is why the 49ers are treating the trip as more than a routine away-game journey.
That matters even more because the team opened the season in Australia and arrived a week early to get used to the time difference. In other words, this is not a new approach from Shanahan. The 49ers are again choosing preparation over convenience, and that is exactly the kind of detail that can shape a tight game.
A small edge, but potentially an important one
Shanahan’s view is measured rather than dramatic. He is not suggesting the altitude guarantees anything, only that it can improve the 49ers’ chances if they handle it properly. In a season where every percentage point matters, that is enough to justify changing the team’s travel routine for a week.
For a side already balancing a demanding schedule, the decision also fits the wider picture around the roster and the physical load on players. The focus now is whether the altitude work translates when the 49ers face the Vikings in Mexico City next Sunday night. If it does, Shanahan will see it as another example of preparation paying off, much like the attention to detail he has shown in other areas this week, including the issues around the Dallas trip and the latest roster questions.
