http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2654743

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"SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco 49ers ended negotiations with the city about building a new stadium and plan to move to Santa Clara or somewhere else in California, The Associated Press learned Wednesday night. Owner John York notified Mayor Gavin Newsom of the team's decision earlier Wednesday, a city official close to the negotiations told the AP on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. Team spokesman Aaron Salkin declined to comment Wednesday night. Phone messages left on the office and cell phone of Lisa Lang, the 49ers' vice president for communications, were not immediately returned. The sides had been talking over the past 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. The team's lease at Candlestick runs through the 2008 season, and the team holds three five-year options that could extend it through 2023. The stadium at Candlestick is one of the most run-down in the NFL, leading the team's desire to seek a new stadium with revenue-generating suites and luxury boxes. The plan to build a stadium also included public housing, retail and office space. The city was not going to contribute any money to the stadium but was willing to possibly help with infrastructure costs. The 49ers' headquarters are in Santa Clara, located about 30 miles south of San Francisco. Los Angeles and Anaheim also are seeking an NFL team. The mayors of the two cities met last month with new commissioner Roger Goodell to offer their competing plans to lure a team back to Southern California. Los Angeles city leaders want to build a new stadium within the walls of the historic Memorial Coliseum, featuring 200 luxury boxes and 15,000 club seats at a cost of $800 million. Goodell also met with Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle about his city's plans to sell the NFL 53 acres at the below-market price of $50 million to build a new stadium adjacent to Angel Stadium. The Los Angeles area hasn't had an NFL team since after the 1994 season, when the Raiders returned to Oakland and the Anaheim-based Rams moved to St. Louis."

although i hate them as much as i hate the cowboys, i cant imagine this really happening and i think it would somewhat suck if they did.

11/9/2006 2:22:16 AM

that would be like the Redskins moving to Richmond or the Cowboys moving to San Antonio......just not the same.

11/9/2006 2:24:41 AM

all that history of that franchise gone to another city

would be sad.

although I do think that Los Angeles has the lead right now in the negotiations.

11/9/2006 2:24:44 AM

them damn queers dont know what the fuck they are doing

11/9/2006 2:31:29 AM

candlestick is seriously a dump (and this is coming from someone with season tickets in qualcomm, also a dump but not nearly as bad as candlestick)

i recently read that the NFL was backing off on a team in LA, though...

pasadena just voted against some measure to plow a bunch of money into the rose bowl:

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/search/ci_4620946

the 9ers will probably move to santa clara, which is still considered the bay area (though obviously not on the bay)

11/9/2006 2:50:39 AM

49ers moving from candlestick to santa clara would be more like the cowboys moving from dallas to ft worth

(note: the cowboys are already a third of the way to ft worth, and are moving another third of the way in 2009)

11/9/2006 9:42:21 AM

Well, most of the sports teams (i.e. football and basketball) are having a tough time getting funds from the state of California. Most of the money has been put into other things such as repair roads and such, and city and state boards are disagreeing with the owners of these teams as far as proposals to build new stadiums. Monster Park (SF 49ers), McAfee Coliseum (OAK A's and Raiders), Qualcomm Stadium (SD Chargers) and Arco Arena (SAC Kings) are all old, and are in need of much needed repair.

I know road repair is very important, but if we needed to build a bigger version of the RBC or renovate it down the road, I wouldn't mind a tax increase for a short period of time. That's if it came down to it.

11/9/2006 10:11:37 AM

Californians typically don't go for these temporary tax increases because they are already taxed out the ass

11/9/2006 10:23:17 AM

They were saying on the radio on the way in to work that Santa Clara is the likely destination now. It's still on the Peninsula at least.. but barely.

Also, the A's are building their new stadium in Fremont, about 10 miles South of where they currently play.

11/9/2006 11:10:47 AM

hahahaha i think its great!

11/9/2006 11:13:57 AM

Quote :

"the 9ers will probably move to santa clara"

thats what i have been hearing

11/9/2006 11:38:36 AM

Many professional sports teams already play in suburbs of the city that they're "in."

The New York Giants and the New York Jets play in New Jersey.
The Miami Dolphins play in Ft. Lauderdale.
The Texas Rangers play in Arlington.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays play in St. Petersburg.
etc....

Santa Clara is a suburb of San Francisco.

11/9/2006 12:06:51 PM

a little off topic but arent the NJ Nets becoming the Brooklyn Nets soon, similar move as this although i dont know if the 9ers will change their name, i doubt it...

11/9/2006 12:36:50 PM

that would be like the Redskins moving to Richmond Maryland

11/9/2006 12:41:00 PM

the point is that this wouldnt be just any team moving and maybe changing their name, its the 49ers, who were at one time one of the proudest, most tradition rich teams in the nfl, thats why its a big deal

11/9/2006 12:44:37 PM

Why would they change their name? They are [possibly] moving a whopping 15 miles. Most of their fans are probably from the South Bay anyway..

11/9/2006 12:46:18 PM

well im not in california like you are, ha, so i wasnt sure what the fan demographics are there

11/9/2006 12:49:04 PM

Quote :

"The sides had been talking over the past 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. "

Quote :

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

So what exactly is the terrible problem? They won't even pay the infrastructure costs? Isn't the point of cities and states have Dept. of Trans.'s to ensure that areas have proper infrastructure?

And how exactly is SF going to make a bid at the summer games if they won't even pay for infrastructure of a stadium?

11/9/2006 12:51:52 PM

From the original article at the top of the page:

Quote :

" York said the team would not change its name under any circumstances. "Nothing will persuade us to change the name of the San Francisco 49ers, one of the most storied brands in the world of sports," he said. "

11/9/2006 1:06:46 PM

Quote :

"queers"

11/9/2006 1:14:12 PM