Posted on 01/10/2009 3:03:51 PM PST by nickcarraway
The San Francisco 49ers on Friday acknowledged that the battered economy likely will slow down their plans to build a new stadium in Santa Clara and now has them willing to discuss a once unthinkable option sharing a new home with their cross-bay rival, the Raiders.
Combining resources with the Oakland Raiders as the New York Jets and Giants have done on a new $1.6 billion stadium may be the only way for the 49ers to overcome frozen financial markets to fund a new stadium, NFL insiders and sports economists say.
Team officials said Friday that they remain focused on starting construction of a new $854 million stadium in 2010, but acknowledged the economy and other factors "are making hitting our target more difficult." While there are no immediate plans to join forces with the Raiders, the 49ers would be willing to discuss sharing a stadium "if a workable option emerges."
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Several insiders said the economy could force the 49ers to consider what the Giants and Jets did teaming up with their cross-bay rival, the Raiders, to build a stadium the two teams would share.
A shared stadium would generate more revenue, potentially making risk-averse lenders more likely to finance it. There is a huge wild card in that plan, however the Raiders' mercurial owner.
"Economically it makes sense, but you've got to get people to agree to live together and live harmoniously," Tillis said. "It's complicated. The Jets and Giants have been living together for awhile, so they know what they are dealing with, but with Al Davis in the mix, I think it's challenging."
Raiders CEO Amy Trask declined to comment about the possibility of sharing a stadium with the 49ers Friday, other than to say, "We enjoy our relationship with the
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
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I think the government should build the San Francisco stadium and name it “Marine Corps Stadium”. After all, the SF citizens have treated the Marines so nicely.
I gave up my tickets as it was more then I wanted to spend on a losing team.
The Raiders sharing space with the 49ers? That seems like a classic Felix and Oscar relationship. How long will the brie and white wine 49ers fan tolerate coming to a stadium that reeks of urine from the previous weeks Raiders crowd?
This is like the Packers sharing Lambeau Field with the Bears.
The NFL has a standing policy of providing $150 million in league funds to help finance the construction of a new stadium. With the new stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands, the NFL agreed to provide $300 million because the stadium is home to two NFL teams.
In Kansas City 20 years ago before Carl Peterson got here you could buy a ticket for $16.00 now parking is $30.00
300 million? A stadium doesn’t cost much more to build than that. Although since it’s New Jersey, I’m sure there are plenty of hidden fees we don’t really know about and palms greased that add to the expense.
WHAT? A combined 49-ders loser team?
Damn it, I don’t want to share a stadium with those packers of fudge!
Seems pretty unlikely, but if it does happen then my season seats are gone.
I will not share space with raiders fans. There simply isn’t enough disinfectant in the world.
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