Opening Of 49ers Stadium To Be Delayed To 2015
Fans awaiting the opening of a new Santa Clara stadium for the San Francisco 49ers will have to wait an additional year because of a financing setback.
In a statement posted on the 49ers website Wednesday, National Football League and 49ers officials said that until the league and the players' unions reach an agreement on a new contract, the team will not be able to secure financing from the league and other investors for the project.
The anticipated 2014 opening date could be delayed for a year so that a financing plan can be established, officials said.
"The 49ers and the NFL cannot make a major investment in a new stadium at this time," team officials said in the statement. "We are hopeful that an agreement can be reached with the union as soon as possible to facilitate the investment needed to move forward with this project."
In June, voters passed a ballot measure to relocate the team to Santa Clara with a new $937 million, 68,500-seat stadium next to the Great America theme park.
The team and the NFL have agreed to contribute nearly $500 million to the project, and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority and the city of Santa Clara will foot the rest of the bill.
A new stadium in Santa Clara would replace Candlestick Park, located in San Francisco's Hunters Point neighborhood, as the team's home venue.
Addressing the issue at an unrelated event, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who in June warned that the stadium plan "is built on shaky economic ground," encouraged 49ers president Jed York to consider staying in San Francisco.
"If he's going to remain here for the next five years, why doesn't he just continue the legacy of the DeBartolo family, his uncle, and continue to commit to the city and county of San Francisco?" Newsom said.
He added that the city is "ready with open arms" to start helping with construction of a new stadium.
"We can certainly help them with the financing and corporate sponsorship, and I'm committed fully to do that," he said.
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Víctor Lei
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