Post by TheShadow on Jun 3, 2009 16:12:15 GMT -5
www.eastbayexpress.com
by Robert Gammon
The Santa Clara City Council voted 5-2 last night to go forward with a plan to bring the San Francisco 49ers to the South Bay, according to the Chron. Now, all that's left is a vote of Santa Clara residents to make team's move official. But the 49ers $937 million stadium proposal has one major problem: It's a ton of money to spend on a facility that will only host ten football games a year. That's why the 49ers want the Oakland Raiders to go in on the deal with them and move to Santa Clara, too. According to the Chron, Raiders CEO Amy Trask appears to be interested as well and has committed to looking at the option of sharing a football stadium with the Niners. But Trask told the paper that she would prefer that the two teams work together on a new stadium plan in Oakland. We agree with her, but is that likely?
The Raiders lease expires at the Coliseum in 18 months, and yet there is no plan for a new stadium in the East Bay. By contrast, the 49ers proposal for Santa Clara is pretty far along. So, the question is which scenario is more probable? One thing is for sure. It's becoming clear that the Bay Area can't support two new football stadiums, especially if they're financed mostly with private money.
by Robert Gammon
The Santa Clara City Council voted 5-2 last night to go forward with a plan to bring the San Francisco 49ers to the South Bay, according to the Chron. Now, all that's left is a vote of Santa Clara residents to make team's move official. But the 49ers $937 million stadium proposal has one major problem: It's a ton of money to spend on a facility that will only host ten football games a year. That's why the 49ers want the Oakland Raiders to go in on the deal with them and move to Santa Clara, too. According to the Chron, Raiders CEO Amy Trask appears to be interested as well and has committed to looking at the option of sharing a football stadium with the Niners. But Trask told the paper that she would prefer that the two teams work together on a new stadium plan in Oakland. We agree with her, but is that likely?
The Raiders lease expires at the Coliseum in 18 months, and yet there is no plan for a new stadium in the East Bay. By contrast, the 49ers proposal for Santa Clara is pretty far along. So, the question is which scenario is more probable? One thing is for sure. It's becoming clear that the Bay Area can't support two new football stadiums, especially if they're financed mostly with private money.