Tailgating with the red and gold of the . . . Orlando 49ers?

By Jeff Dickinson  |   Wednesday, October 15, 2008  |  Comments( 5 )

San Francisco 49ers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
Imagine a cool fall afternoon and a parking lot full of tailgaters gearing up for a big NFL game. Grills are smoking, coolers are overflowing and fans are awaiting the arrival of kickoff so they can cheer for their beloved 49ers.

Not the San Francisco 49ers, mind you, but the Orlando 49ers.

According to a story by Forbes.com, the San Francisco 49ers are the second-most likely NFL franchise to relocate. If you're to believe a story titled “The 10 sports franchises most likely to move,” written by Tom Van Riper, the 49ers may not be long for San Francisco.

Van Riper says that after the Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers are the second-most stagnant NFL franchise “based on franchise valuations and revenue and attendance trends over the past few years.” How in the name of Joe Montana can that be?

It all boils down to dollars and sense, according to Van Riper. He says that revenues from new stadiums with luxury suites and corporate deals are what make sports franchises profitable.

According to Forbes, the 49ers have the second-lowest revenues in the league. At first glance, it would seem like everything is fine. San Francisco is valued at $865 million this year, which is up $166 million from 2005. That’s a pretty nice appreciation level, it would seem.

Van Riper says that both stadiums in the Bay Area – the homes of the 49ers and the Oakland Raiders – are in need of replacing. If a new stadium isn’t built in the area, Van Riper says that either the Raiders or the 49ers will relocate. Because of their more passionate fan base, Van Riper says that the Raiders are the better bet to stay.

Where might the 49ers go if they do relocate? According to Forbes, the leading cities are Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando and Austin, Texas.

Before you start to shred your 49er memorabilia and join a cult, though, take heart in the fact that Van Riper says that today’s challenging economy will put any franchise movement on hold for the time being. Does that mean that the 49ers will stay in San Francisco for two more years, five more years or more? That’s up to the economic forecasters and to those who have a stake in lobbying for a new football stadium in San Francisco.

The 49ers should still be in San Francisco next season and the one after that. In fact, it’s a safe bet that the team will leave its heart and more in San Francisco for at least the next few years. But fans might want to keep an eye on future stadium discussions.

If the 49ers don’t receive a new state-of-the-art stadium complete with luxury suites, skyboxes and other revenue-generating features, San Francisco fans might have to get used to watching the Las Vegas 49ers. With every season-ticket package purchased, fans receive a complimentary casino voucher and a pass to see Wayne Newton at Caesar’s Palace.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (5)

About Jeff Dickinson

I have been writing and editing professionally for 18 years. I spent the first three years of my career as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper in Alabama and got to cover sports and get paid for it! It was great until I got married and then it wasn't too much fun being away from my wife every...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report