PixelPusher
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2733166
Niners extend lease, but officials plan to explore
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco 49ers extended their lease for five years at Monster Park, but team officials were continuing to focus on the possibility of building a new stadium in Silicon Valley.
In a letter delivered to Mayor Gavin Newsom on Friday, team officials said they were extending their lease for the city-owned stadium from May 2008 through May 2013. But the team also planned to continue exploring building a stadium next to their headquarters and training facility in Santa Clara, about 45 miles south of San Francisco.
"We are going to play at Monster Park for the foreseeable future," spokeswoman Lisa Lang said. "But we have made our goal clear to everyone: We want a new stadium by 2012."
If a new stadium was built within that time, the team would have to make contractual arrangements with San Francisco to leave Monster Park before the lease expired, Lang said.
Earlier this month, Santa Clara officials agreed to conduct a six-month study to build and finance a new stadium there. Stadium construction would be funded through a public-private partnership that should not result in higher taxes for Santa Clara residents, team officials said.
Meanwhile, Newsom has asked the 49ers to build a new stadium at the city's old Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, a location rejected by the team two years ago over concerns about limited freeway access and toxic waste at the site.
"We are keeping the door open to San Francisco and are open to any new ideas they might have," Lang said.
The 49ers pay $9 million per year in rent and taxes for Monster Park. The team has played at the Candlestick Point location since 1971.
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Candlestick is beyond decrepit at this point, but part of me is glad, simply because the older and hoarier that old stadium gets, the more of a homefield advantage it becomes for the Niners (players from visiting teams loathe going there to play).
Niners extend lease, but officials plan to explore
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco 49ers extended their lease for five years at Monster Park, but team officials were continuing to focus on the possibility of building a new stadium in Silicon Valley.
In a letter delivered to Mayor Gavin Newsom on Friday, team officials said they were extending their lease for the city-owned stadium from May 2008 through May 2013. But the team also planned to continue exploring building a stadium next to their headquarters and training facility in Santa Clara, about 45 miles south of San Francisco.
"We are going to play at Monster Park for the foreseeable future," spokeswoman Lisa Lang said. "But we have made our goal clear to everyone: We want a new stadium by 2012."
If a new stadium was built within that time, the team would have to make contractual arrangements with San Francisco to leave Monster Park before the lease expired, Lang said.
Earlier this month, Santa Clara officials agreed to conduct a six-month study to build and finance a new stadium there. Stadium construction would be funded through a public-private partnership that should not result in higher taxes for Santa Clara residents, team officials said.
Meanwhile, Newsom has asked the 49ers to build a new stadium at the city's old Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, a location rejected by the team two years ago over concerns about limited freeway access and toxic waste at the site.
"We are keeping the door open to San Francisco and are open to any new ideas they might have," Lang said.
The 49ers pay $9 million per year in rent and taxes for Monster Park. The team has played at the Candlestick Point location since 1971.
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Candlestick is beyond decrepit at this point, but part of me is glad, simply because the older and hoarier that old stadium gets, the more of a homefield advantage it becomes for the Niners (players from visiting teams loathe going there to play).
