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Could the 9ers be leaving San Fran?


BiggieFries
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I doubt they leave.

 

Here are the 49er's plans for their new Stadium next to Candlestick Park or whatever it's called these days.

49ers unveil plans for stadium

By Dennis Georgatos

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

776 words

18 July 2006

Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)

F4

English

© Copyright 2006, Contra Costa Times. All Rights Reserved.

 

SAN FRANCISCO

 

The 49ers unveiled a preliminary design for a new stadium Monday and said they intend to build it on the vacant bayfront land next to 46-year-old Monster Park, the NFL's oldest facility.

 

For the first time in the long-stalled process, the 49ers also publicly outlined a timeline for construction that would have the team playing in the new stadium by 2012 and a cost estimate ranging from $600 million to $800 million.

 

The news conference to announce the plans was one of the few tangible signs of progress in the decade-long effort to build a replacement for the aging park.

 

49ers vice president Lisa Lang said all the team's efforts were concentrated on making the San Francisco site work. But she acknowledged that a parking lot across the street from the 49ers' Santa Clara headquarters has been selected as a backup site should the plans for Candlestick Point fall through.

 

"We aren't looking at Santa Clara right now," Lang said. "We're spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a month on the effort to make this work at Candlestick Point. If there's a point where there is a significant barrier that we just can't surmount, then we'd have to make a decision. But we've had a great working relationship with the city. We feel very positive as we move ahead."

 

Voters in San Francisco gave the go-ahead for a new stadium and mall project in 1997. They also approved a $100 million bond measure to help finance the new stadium, but soaring cost projections led team owners John and Denise York to put that on hold in 1998 soon after they assumed control of the club.

 

Under the current scenario, the 49ers do not intend to use the taxpayer-backed bond to replace the park, in which the team has played since 1971. The club plans to arrange private financing for the stadium, including a contribution in the "hundreds of millions of dollars" from the York family as well as up to $150 million from an NFL stadium fund, Lang said.

 

The 49ers' development partner, Lennar Corp., is conducting a feasibility study for a mixed-use development around the new stadium that would include housing, shops and other entertainment and retail outlets. Results of that study are expected by September and will figure in the team's ability to generate private financing for the project.

 

The 49ers say the current plan is consistent with the one approved by voters nine years ago, so they don't think there is a need to submit it to another vote.

 

"We're very aware that there are challenges ahead of us," Lang said. "But we are absolutely determined to have a new stadium for our fans and our players. That's what we're focused on and that's what we're going to deliver."

 

There are several potential obstacles to the stadium's construction, including:

 

A member of the public could object to the project, saying it has changed too much since it was approved.

 

If Lennar's study shows building on the site wouldn't be profitable, Lennar and the team might decide not to go forward.

 

The city still needs to conduct a thorough review of the project, including an environmental review. Snags in that process could hold up or stop construction.

 

Private financing has yet to be secured.

 

Lang said the team hopes to break ground on the new stadium Jan. 1, 2010.

 

The preliminary design by the HNTB architectural firm, which was hired in March, calls for a 68,000-seat stadium that could be expandable to 80,000 seats, making it possible for the facility to play host to the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.

 

Other features include an open end on the north side to allow a view of the San Francisco skyline, a large promenade, and a design that would put the majority of seats in the lower bowl.

 

Luxury suites would be arranged in a stack on one side of the stadium, topped by a press box.

 

Tony Gonzales, an HNTB vice president, said architects visited stadiums throughout the world before drawing up plans for the 49ers' new park.

 

"We have a wonderful start here," he said. "We've taken the best of the best from throughout the world, whether it's an urban setting or fan experience issue. We feel this is an incredible site and an incredible city and we are really looking to make this an incredible stadium."

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I doubt they leave.

 

Here are the 49er's plans for their new Stadium next to Candlestick Park or whatever it's called these days.

 

 

The story you quoted is from back in July. Negotiations could have collapsed since then. Not saying it's wrong, just saying bad things could have happened in 4 months.

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The story you quoted is from back in July. Negotiations could have collapsed since then. Not saying it's wrong, just saying bad things could have happened in 4 months.

 

What negotiations are there to collapse? They plan on private financing.

Under the current scenario, the 49ers do not intend to use the taxpayer-backed bond to replace the park, in which the team has played since 1971. The club plans to arrange private financing for the stadium, including a contribution in the "hundreds of millions of dollars" from the York family as well as up to $150 million from an NFL stadium fund, Lang said.
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What negotiations are there to collapse? They plan on private financing.

 

 

From article:

The San Francisco 49ers ended negotiations with the city about building a new stadium and plan to move to either Santa Clara or somewhere else in California, The Associated Press learned Wednesday night.

 

So there are some "negotiations" going on. What kind, I'm not sure. But there are some and they didn't seem to have gone so well.

Edited by BiggieFries
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What negotiations are there to collapse? They plan on private financing.

 

 

It would cost the 49'ers more to fix the infrastructure than it would to build the statidum.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnB4...ov=ap&type=lgns

 

"According to the release, York made his decision after a yearlong study of the area around Candlestick Park determined that the area needed too many infrastructure and public transit improvements to make a new stadium viable.

 

The team said the cost of those improvements could have exceeded the entire bill for the proposed stadium, which was estimated to cost between $600 million and $800 million. "

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It is true that Santa Clara is the 49er's back up plan, but look at these quotes in the following Aossicated Press story.

49ers look into possible move to Santa Clara

The 49ers have given up hope of building a state-of-the-art stadium in San Francisco and are considering a move to suburban Santa Clara.

 

York planned to hold a news conference Thursday in Santa Clara to talk in detail about the decision. But in a news release announcing the decision issued late Wednesday night, York said the team will not change its name even if he decided to move.

 

I'd say this is a poker play by York to get San Fran to throw more money towards city infastructure improvements.

 

The city was not going to contribute any money to the stadium but was willing to possibly help with some of the infrastructure costs.

 

The sides had been talking over the last few months about building a privately financed stadium at Candlestick Point that was going to be part of the city's bid for the 2016 summer Olympics.

 

Ragone did not know how the 49ers' decision would impact the Olympic bid. San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago are the three cities competing to be the U.S. Olympic Committee's choice to bid on the 2016 games.

 

The new stadium is an integral part of San Fran's bid for the 2016 Olympics. They'll cough up the dough for infrastructure improvements before they see both their Pro Football Team & their Olympic hopes vanish...IMO.

Edited by Big Score 1
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If they moved to Santa Clara, that would be better for a lot of fans. I don't think that Silicon Valley voters are going to want to pony up $500 million+ for a new stadium though.

 

York is an extremely cost-conscious guys (he reputedly chews out 49er front office employees for using too many office supplies) so my bet is that the 49ers are going to be the next team rumored to be heading to LA.

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Santa Clara work out facility is 2 miles from were i work.

i'm hoping they make the move

 

Hey! Then we're basically neighbors.

 

York is an businASS man, who cares nothing about football. He knows that a new stadium jacks up the price he can sell the franchise for. That's all he cares about. Either he gets a new stadium else where, or he uses the threat as leverage to get the City of San Francisco to come to terms on the infrastructure improvements around Candlestick, which are sorely needed. (Seriously, Candlestick is a dump and it's located in one of the most violent, slummy areas in the SF Bay Area: Hunters Point).

Edited by yo mama
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This is an email I just got.

 

 

Dear 49ers Faithful,

 

We are writing to share a major update regarding our plans for a new stadium. The 49ers have the most loyal and faithful fans in the NFL, and the team’s new stadium design has been planned down to the smallest detail to give you the ultimate experience you deserve.

 

As you know, we have been working diligently with the City of San Francisco and our partner, Lennar Corporation, over the past year to study the feasibility of a stadium and mixed-use development at Candlestick Point. We hired the best experts and advisors in the business to help us achieve this goal, and spent millions of dollars on site studies, consultants and analysis.

 

Despite our best efforts, we have determined that the stadium and mixed-use development concept does not provide the game day experience we are determined to deliver to you. As a result, we have decided not to begin the public approval process at Candlestick Point.

 

The decision stemmed from the incompatible land requirements of the stadium and mixed-use development at the site. The project would have created massive new infrastructure and public transit needs, and the size of the development would take up much of the space you currently use for parking and tailgating, requiring the construction of one of the largest parking garages in the world. Additionally, the complexity of the approval process would have jeopardized our goal of opening the new stadium in time for the 2012 season.

 

As a result, we are now shifting our focus to the City of Santa Clara near the Great America amusement park and the Santa Clara Convention Center. We are excited about the possibilities Santa Clara offers for the 49ers Faithful, including:

• Several public transportation options that are already in operation, such as VTA light rail, Amtrak and ACE trains in addition to significant bus service;

• Plenty of existing parking within walking distance of the proposed stadium site; and

• Several six-to-eight-lane thoroughfares built to accommodate high traffic volumes, and easy access to multiple freeways.

 

There is a great deal of work to be done in Santa Clara, which will begin immediately. That said, there are some elements of this project that are firm. We are committed to:

• Our location: We will not leave the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers are part of the fabric of this region and we intend to stay right here where we belong.

• Our name: We will remain the San Francisco 49ers regardless of where in the Bay Area our stadium is located.

• Our timeline: We have an unwavering focus on our goal of delivering a new state-of-the-art NFL stadium to you by the start of the 2012 season.

• Our design of the interior of the stadium: The response we have received from the 49ers Faithful and stadium design experts has been overwhelmingly positive, and will remain key to our project as we shift our focus to Santa Clara.

 

We look forward to sharing additional details with you in the coming weeks about the stadium project as we move forward.

 

Best,

 

 

Denise and John York

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It's currently called Monster Park, due to the little 'monsters' running around in the neighborhood surrounding it... :D

 

And the real reason they're thinking about moving the stadium down to San Jose area is the Chardonnay is cheaper down there...

 

There are also a lot of big-money corporate sponsers in Santa Clara/San Jose, like Yahoo, Ebay, Google, Oracle, etc. Massive personal and corporate wealth in this area.

Edited by yo mama
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Wow, and I thought that my parents were getting hosed by paying $350 in suburban Chicago. :D

 

I'm a fairly recent buyer, so I've got it worse than most, as "Prop 13" out here caps the max increases in annual tax-appraised values. So there are ton of folks that bought 10 or more years ago who's homes' tax-value is much, much less than its fair market value. But still, most new condo and townhomes (which are on the low-end of what you buy in most developed, CA meto areas) begin around $500,000. And property taxes on a $500,000 home would be about $6,000 a year. But, like I said, that's on the low end of what things cost around here. A traditional single family home in a decent neighborhood starts around $750,000+ (and that's gonna be a "fixer-upper") and the property taxes are obviously more. When were were looking in San Francisco itself, prices were more in the seven figure range. It's freakin' insane out here, unless you purchased before the tech boom.

 

Taxes are one of the big reasons I miss Houston. Low property taxes, no state income tax, and very friendly wage-to-cost of living ratio. But, of course, you've got to be willing to live in that flat, humid swamp.

Edited by yo mama
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I'm a fairly recent buyer, so I've got it worse than most, as "Prop 13" out here caps the max increases in annual tax-appraised values. So there are ton of folks that bought 10 or more years ago who's homes' tax-value is much, much less than its fair market value. But still, most new condo and townhomes (which are on the low-end of what you buy in most developed, CA meto areas) begin around $500,000. And property taxes on a $500,000 home would be about $6,000 a year. But, like I said, that's on the low end of what things cost around here. A traditional single family home in a decent neighborhood starts around $750,000+ (and that's gonna be a "fixer-upper") and the property taxes are obviously more. When were were looking in San Francisco itself, prices were more in the seven figure range. It's freakin' insane out here, unless you purchased before the tech boom.

 

Taxes are one of the big reasons I miss Houston. Low property taxes, no state income tax, and very friendly wage-to-cost of living ratio. But, of course, you've got to be willing to live in that flat, humid swamp.

 

 

Yeah, that's pretty much what I've heard. Blech.

 

No wonder LA can't attract an NFL team. CA is just way too highly over-priced and over-taxed for a taxpayer-funded stadium.

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CA is just way too highly over-priced and over-taxed for a taxpayer-funded stadium.

What's odd is that CA voters just approved EVERY bond measure on the state ballot: over $40 billion worth. We're willing to pay more taxes; we're just idiots when it comes to what were willing to pay taxes for.

Edited by yo mama
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