San Francisco 49ers oppose stadium legislation

The San Francisco 49ers today announced their strong opposition to
legislation introduced in Sacramento by California State Senator Carole
Migden.

The team
’s opposition was joined by California
State Senator Elaine Alquist, who represents most of Silicon Valley. Her
13th Senate district covers the cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa
Clara, Mountain View, and Gilroy.
“The 49ers
are a Bay Area team and an important regional asset. I strongly oppose
this legislation because it hurts our chances of keeping the team in the
Bay Area.
”

The legislation, entitled SB 49, is designed to limit the team
’s
ability to build a new stadium in the Bay Area outside of the city
limits of San Francisco. If passed, the legislation would make it
virtually impossible for the team to stay in the region.

The bill proposed by Senator Migden would eliminate the opportunity for
a Bay Area city other than San Francisco to develop a public-private
partnership with the 49ers, which is crucial to the team
’s
ability to build a new stadium. It would apply exclusively to the San
Francisco 49ers by exempting other professional sports leagues in the
state and setting conditions that do not apply to other NFL teams.

“In effect, Senator Migden wants to draw a
100-mile circle around San Francisco to legislate a
‘no-49ers-stadium
zone,
’
” said
Executive Vice President of Football Operations Lal Heneghan.
“If
passed, the consequences of this legislation would be devastating for
the 49ers and our fans throughout the Bay Area.
”

In November, the team determined that a plan to build a new stadium and
mixed-use development at San Francisco
’s
Candlestick Point would create too many transportation and parking
headaches for the fans due to incompatible land requirements at the site
and massive infrastructure deficiencies in the area. As a result, the
team decided not to move forward with the public approval process for
the project. In an effort to replace its current stadium, 46-year-old
Monster Park, the team announced it would shift its focus to the nearby
City of Santa Clara, which has served as the location of the 49ers
’
headquarters and practice facility for over two decades.

“Our stadium is currently located in San
Francisco and our roots run deep in the City, but the San Francisco
49ers have always been a regional team and a regional asset,
”
said Heneghan. More than 90 percent of the team
’s
season ticket holders live outside the City of San Francisco. 49ers
players and staff live throughout the Bay Area, and the team
’s
community outreach and charitable programs are active throughout the
region.
“Make no mistake, the social and
economic benefits of the San Francisco 49ers are important to the entire
San Francisco Bay Area, not just the City of San Francisco.
”

Later this month, the team will speak before the Santa Clara City
Council and seek to begin a feasibility study with the City to explore
the possibility of building a new stadium near the Santa Clara
Convention Center and the Great America amusement park. The location is
served by multiple forms of public transit and would offer easy access
to fans from several freeways that connect throughout the Bay Area.
Although the 49ers have stated that the site in Santa Clara will be its
main focus, the team will continue to explore potential back-up sites in
San Francisco and throughout the region.

The 49ers intend to vigorously fight the legislation and seek its
immediate withdrawal.
“We hope civic leaders
from throughout the Bay Area will join us and our fans in opposing this
legislation and work together with us to create opportunities rather
than roadblocks,
” said Heneghan.