Santa Clara 49ers

[Vinny]

excellent article on the state of the 49er franchise.

Behind the 49ers stadium mess

John Coté, Chronicle Staff Writer

Sunday, July 12, 2009

If not for a federal wiretap and a $400,000 bribe to the former governor of Louisiana, the San Francisco 49ers might have settled into a new stadium here years ago instead of now trying to leave the city where they were born.

Then-team owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr.'s bribe for a riverboat casino license in 1997 threw the 49ers into a two-year ownership limbo that helped kill a Candlestick Point shopping mall and stadium project that was to host the 2003 Super Bowl.

"If Eddie had not lost control of the team, the stadium project at Candlestick Point would definitely have gone forward," said former 49ers President Carmen Policy, the team's point man on that deal and now a consultant aiding Mayor Gavin Newsom's efforts to keep the team from moving.

"The stadium would have been built," Policy said.

Instead, DeBartolo resigned as team chairman, pleaded guilty to a felony and was later given a one-year league suspension. His sister and brother-in-law, with no previous experience running a pro football team, took over the 49ers. Policy left the team. The stadium project stalled.

That, coupled with the continued deterioration of Candlestick Park and the challenges of building a major venue along San Francisco's southeastern waterfront, paved the Niners' road south to Silicon Valley, former team officials and city leaders said.

A 63-year tradition

If the 49ers leave, it would mean the end of a 63-year tradition and the loss of a team that former Mayor now-Sen. Dianne Feinstein called part of the city's "critical history." The Niners' five Super Bowl wins starting in 1982 provided a rallying point for a city racked by the Jonestown massacre, the assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone and later the AIDS epidemic.

Owners Denise DeBartolo York, husband Dr. John York and now their son, Jed York - after abruptly pulling out of a mixed-use development and stadium project at San Francisco's Candlestick Point in November 2006 - say they hope to move the 49ers to Santa Clara.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...#ixzz0LmeYZv7i

[Blazing Arrow]

Candlestick is a terrible park. I think it is actually called Monster park now but it is in a horrible location and hard to get to. No mass transit at all accept the bus.

Santa Clara has wanted the team forever though and they always say the move is going to happen then it never does. I know the stadium is a big issue in the city because of the amount of money needed to build it. I also think the plan is to build it fairly close to Great America and amusement park and the owners of the park are suing the stadium people over it.

Newsom has also repeatedly said that the team will most likely not move and he is doing all he can to keep them in SF.

[Texan_Bill]

The 49ers in Santa Clara isn't a big deal. They're like 45 miles apart. The diehard Niners fans would still make the trip.

[brakos82]

I've been to Santa Clara. There was a woman in the Wal-Mart parking lot who was standing in a parking bot clear back at the far end of the parking lot. She said she was saving the spot for somebody. We came back out 20 minutes later and the person didn't take the spot.

[GuerillaBlack]

Originally Posted by Blazing Arrow

Candlestick is a terrible park. I think it is actually called Monster park now but it is in a horrible location and hard to get to. No mass transit at all accept the bus.

Santa Clara has wanted the team forever though and they always say the move is going to happen then it never does. I know the stadium is a big issue in the city because of the amount of money needed to build it. I also think the plan is to build it fairly close to Great America and amusement park and the owners of the park are suing the stadium people over it.

Newsom has also repeatedly said that the team will most likely not move and he is doing all he can to keep them in SF.

Isn't there a light rail stop nearby on San Fran's MUNI system?

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

The 49ers in Santa Clara isn't a big deal. They're like 45 miles apart. The diehard Niners fans would still make the trip.

Yep. Not to mention that it is still in the market area. It's right next to San Jose. It would almost be like putting a team in The Woodlands or League City.

[Vinny]

There is a ton of discussion on the 9er board about this if any of you guys are interested in their fan takes on this. There is even a dedicated forum that centers on this topic.

[El Tejano]

Boo Hoo! They are moving to a different city. How about a whole fricking state?

[TEXANRED]

The Niners' five Super Bowl wins starting in 1982 provided a rallying point for a city racked by the Jonestown massacre, the assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone and later the AIDS epidemic.

They forgot to add full house to the list of San Fran atrocities.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by El Tejano

Boo Hoo! They are moving to a different city. How about a whole fricking state?

figured our fans base would be sensitive to others who may lose a team since we know what it feels like. It's not like the situation is resolved. I don't think stuff like this is good for the league in general.

[Carr Bombed]

Originally Posted by GuerillaBlack

Yep. Not to mention that it is still in the market area. It's right next to San Jose. It would almost be like putting a team in The Woodlands or League City.

Or like how the Dallas Cowboys played in Irving for 37 years and like how they're now playing in Arlington.

[GuerillaBlack]

Originally Posted by Vinny

figured our fans base would be sensitive to others who may lose a team since we know what it feels like. It's not like the situation is resolved. I don't think stuff like this is good for the league in general.

Are they really losing the team though? They aren't going that far area, and Santa Clara is apart of the entire San Fran-Oakland-San Jose Bay Area. It's like the Texans moving out to the suburbs or something.

[brakos82]

Arlington, TX... Foxboro, MA... (they were originally called the Boston Patriots, so shut up )... Alexandria, VA... this is nothing new.

I mean, two teams that are "in" New York are in New Jersey...

[Blazing Arrow]

Originally Posted by GuerillaBlack

Isn't there a light rail stop nearby on San Fran's MUNI system?



Yep. Not to mention that it is still in the market area. It's right next to San Jose. It would almost be like putting a team in The Woodlands or League City.

They have the electric busses but I am pretty sure MUNI does not go there. If you drive it is a nightmare.

Santa Clara is a lot easier to get in and out of from all different directions. Plus Monster park is a pile. The thing has needed upgrades for more then a decade now.

The chokeland faiders need a new park as well. The A's are thinking of moving because of this. O-town has a ton of area to put a new stadium but it would never pass a vote.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by TEXANRED

They forgot to add full house to the list of San Fran atrocities.

^^^Repped.


I think it's at least time that a team with 5 Super Bowls gets a new stadium.

[Blazing Arrow]

Originally Posted by GuerillaBlack

Are they really losing the team though? They aren't going that far area, and Santa Clara is apart of the entire San Fran-Oakland-San Jose Bay Area. It's like the Texans moving out to the suburbs or something.

It would take someone by the current park more then an hour to get there. It is a drive and a lot of busy freeways.

[brakos82]

I bet the Golden Gate would make a few more hundreds of thousands in tolls every home game. They may have an idea here...

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by Blazing Arrow

It would take someone by the current park more then an hour to get there. It is a drive and a lot of busy freeways.

Meh, we have fans that drive from Austin. The Niner diehard fans will drive 45 miles.

BTW, it can take an hour to drive from one end of Houston to the other.

[brakos82]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Meh, we have fans that drive from Austin. The Niner diehard fans will drive 45 miles.

BTW, it can take an hour to drive from one end of Houston to the other.

And that's at 3 in the morning. Any other hour, good luck.

[Blazing Arrow]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Meh, we have fans that drive from Austin. The Niner diehard fans will drive 45 miles.

BTW, it can take an hour to drive from one end of Houston to the other.

Same with SF. If you are near that park you know you are no where close to home and in for a drive. It is just in a really crappy area.

[Blazing Arrow]

Originally Posted by brakos82

I bet the Golden Gate would make a few more hundreds of thousands in tolls every home game. They may have an idea here...

If you are in SF the drive to Santa Clara does not involve a bridge.