New stadium offers 49ers a new identify

By Brad Wilbricht  |   Tuesday, May 19, 2009  |  Comments( 3 )

San Francisco 49ers
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The San Francisco 49ers, in search of a new stadium for a while, could soon call Santa Clara, Calif., home. The 49ers currently reside in the unfriendly confines of Candlestick Park, a facility that’s severely outdated. Although the move wouldn’t happen until 2014, it would mark a changing of the guard for the Niners.

The 49ers have been located in San Francisco since 1946, but they have been working with city officials on a new stadium to no avail. As of now, it looks as if the franchise's best option to obtain a new state-of-the-art facility will require a move south of the Bay Area to nearby Santa Clara. The deal would include $916 million of funding, $70 million less than the initial proposal.

While Santa Clara is only 40 miles away from Candlestick Park, the 49ers would be leaving behind a great deal of history (the Niners won five Super Bowl titles in San Francisco and have seen many great players pass through). A proposal could be completed as early as this week and would give the franchise a long-term vision for a new stadium.

As if losing the 49er tradition wasn’t enough, the move presents major economic concerns for San Francisco. Current mayor Gavin Newsom is working on a plan to keep the 49ers in San Francisco, but that would go by the wayside if this deal gets done. It could take as long as 2010 to finalize the move, but San Francisco’s loss would certainly be Santa Clara’s gain.

A handful of other teams have recently paved the way for a move like this, opting for a home away from home. The Cardinals built what’s now called University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., several miles away from the Phoenix metro area and an even greater distance from team headquarters in Tempe.

With a young core of players consisting of linebacker Patrick Willis, wideout Michael Crabtree and several others, the timing would be right for the 49ers to make a move. Optimism is at its highest point in recent years and San Francisco must take advantage by securing the new stadium it desires.
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About Brad Wilbricht

Brad Wilbricht covers numerous sporting events including the NFL, NFL Draft and college football. His analysis is simulcast through several media outlets across the country. Additionally, Brad is a regular guest on a variety of talk radio shows and can be frequently heard on the airwaves. To ...
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