San Francisco is still in the picture although that took a huge hit yesterday with the passage of Measure J.  San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said the city will still move ahead with the plans for a new stadium at Hunters Point.  With the 49ers expected to break ground on the new Santa Clara stadium in 2012 I don’t see many options for luring the team back to S.F.  The only thing I can see happening in the future that would bring S.F. back into the picture are financial reasons.  Measure J calls for city funds to only come out of redevelopment money to finance its share of the project without ever touching general funds.  All cost overruns will be covered by the 49ers.  Santa Clara will pony up $79 million, surrounding hotels will provide $35 million through a voluntary tax, and the 49ers and the stadium authority are on the hook for the remaining $823 million. The stadium authority plans to pay for their share through stadium naming rights, concession agreements, seat licenses and other sources like the NFL.

From my understanding this is where the stadium plan can go south:  The 49ers not being able to cover their share of the costs.  I am not sure exactly how much of those cash sources the 49ers need to have in hand to start building the stadium but this would be San Francisco’s last chance to keep the team.  Years ago when the idea of moving the 49ers outside of San Francisco city limits came up city officials said they might create a law that only sports teams residing within the city can use San Francisco in their name.  I have not heard anything of this being taken up again but it is something to look out for in the future.

For 49er fans in and around San Francisco and those outside who are traditionalists when it comes to the Red and Gold, a stadium in San Francisco is the only way.  I strongly agree but does that mean we have to root for the 49ers to fail when it comes to building the stadium in Santa Clara?

It was hard to write that last sentence but with the margin so big you cannot ignore the facts.  I am hoping for a miracle and a change of minds from Santa Clara voters from when the poll was taken to when they actually go to vote.  Even if the measure passes there is still hope.  Remember in 1997 San Francisco voted for a stadium bond plan to build a stadium for the 49ers at Candlestick Point.  Using the same approved bond the City has incorporated a stadium in their plans at Hunters Point not far from Candlestick Point.  The environmental impact report was narrowly approved on June 3 by San Francisco’s planning and redevelopment commissions which means construct was given the green light.  Where there is still hope is that the site can hold-off on building the stadium until 2017.  Now I don’t want to wait until then to see a 49ers new stadium but with almost certain cost overruns of building the stadium Santa Clara citizens will carry the burden of any those overruns on top of the $330 million they are already contributing.  The $330 million is going to be paid back with a ticket tax and the sale of stadium naming rights (the Cowboys, Giants and Jets have yet to find a company for their naming rights of new stadiums), personal seat licenses (these could run into the thousands) and concession rights.

With the Hunters Point plan being able to include a new 49ers stadium in San Francisco until 2017 if the stadium in Santa Clara is approved and falls apart because of financial issues San Francisco can step right in.  The SF plan would be privately financed and would not require a public vote because the bond was already approved in 1997.  49ers President Jed York however has said that he would consider Oakland as the next option if Santa Clara fails for any reason.  York is a man who clearly in his mind puts business over history and tradition of the 49ers.

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