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The San Francisco 49ers Thursday announced their strong opposition to legislation introduced in Sacramento by California State Senator Carole Migden.
The team’s opposition was joined by California State Senator Elaine Alquist, who represents most of Silicon Valley. Her 13th Senate district covers the cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Gilroy. “The 49ers are a Bay Area team and an important regional asset. I strongly oppose this legislation because it hurts our chances of keeping the team in the Bay Area.”

The legislation, entitled SB 49, is designed to limit the team’s ability to build a new stadium in the Bay Area outside of the city limits of San Francisco. If passed, the legislation would make it virtually impossible for the team to stay in the region.

The bill proposed by Senator Migden would eliminate the opportunity for a Bay Area city other than San Francisco to develop a public-private partnership with the 49ers, which is crucial to the team’s ability to build a new stadium. It would apply exclusively to the San Francisco 49ers by exempting other professional sports leagues in the state and setting conditions that do not apply to other NFL teams.

“In effect, Senator Migden wants to draw a 100-mile circle around San Francisco to legislate a ‘no-49ers-stadium zone,’” said Executive Vice President of Football Operations Lal Heneghan. “If passed, the consequences of this legislation would be devastating for the 49ers and our fans throughout the Bay Area.”

In November, the team determined that a plan to build a new stadium and mixed-use development at San Francisco’s Candlestick Point would create too many transportation and parking headaches for the fans due to incompatible land requirements at the site and massive infrastructure deficiencies in the area. As a result, the team decided not to move forward with the public approval process for the project. In an effort to replace its current stadium, 46-year-old Monster Park, the team announced it would shift its focus to the nearby City of Santa Clara, which has served as the location of the 49ers’ headquarters and practice facility for over two decades.

“Our stadium is currently located in San Francisco and our roots run deep in the City, but the San Francisco 49ers have always been a regional team and a regional asset,” said Heneghan. More than 90 percent of the team’s season ticket holders live outside the City of San Francisco. 49ers players and staff live throughout the Bay Area, and the team’s community outreach and charitable programs are active throughout the region. “Make no mistake, the social and economic benefits of the San Francisco 49ers are important to the entire San Francisco Bay Area, not just the City of San Francisco.”

Later this month, the team will speak before the Santa Clara City Council and seek to begin a feasibility study with the City to explore the possibility of building a new stadium near the Santa Clara Convention Center and the Great America amusement park. The location is served by multiple forms of public transit and would offer easy access to fans from several freeways that connect throughout the Bay Area. Although the 49ers have stated that the site in Santa Clara will be its main focus, the team will continue to explore potential back-up sites in San Francisco and throughout the region.

The 49ers intend to vigorously fight the legislation and seek its immediate withdrawal. “We hope civic leaders from throughout the Bay Area will join us and our fans in opposing this legislation and work together with us to create opportunities rather than roadblocks,” said Heneghan.