Posted on 01/30/2007 1:20:40 PM PST by SmithL
SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco 49ers have filed a legal claim against their home city over leaky luxury boxes, flooded parking lots and other maintenance problems at city-owned Monster Park.
The claim filed Monday, part of an ongoing battle with the city over a new stadium, alleges the city has violated terms of the stadium lease by failing to make necessary repairs after years of complaints, costing the team revenue.
"The level of deferred maintenance and neglected maintenance is and has been unacceptable," Murlan Fowell, the 49ers' vice president of operations, wrote in a letter to the city.
The 47-year-old stadium on Candlestick Point suffers from rusty light towers and steps, cracked walkways, clogged drains in concession stands and broken escalators and elevators, according to the complaint. Broken equipment has fallen into areas where fans could have been injured if the collapse had happened on game day, the team said.
A spokeswoman for the San Francisco city attorney's office said the matter was under review. City officials in the past have denied violating the lease.
The 49ers this month extended their lease for five years at Monster Park, but team officials said they were continuing to focus on the possibility of building a new stadium in Silicon Valley near the team's Santa Clara headquarters.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin 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.
The team also denied reports Monday that they were in discussions with the Oakland Raiders about sharing a new stadium at the Santa Clara site.
If they think that things are bad at Monster Park, wait `til they get settled into Hunter's Point.
Get ready for the San Francisco 49ers of Santa Clara.
Socialism at it's best.
Well the Mayor should have plenthy of time on his hands now that his gay wedding turnstile has been idled.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.