Originally posted by 9erB4Us:Originally posted by cypherninja:
Here's two cents and a few paragraphs from a person born and raised in SF (although I am temporarily in Burlingame for about one more year).
Both the proposed SC and HP sites will require a lot of effort and time. Seems like SC is ahead because the plan has been approved by the city and the 49ers. HP will take a lot planning and major construction work through the efforts of SF, Lennar and the 49ers. Note that the 49ers aren't even at the discussion table for HP and a stadium does not really affect Lennar's presence in the area.
The monumental efforts to make HP viable are expensive, time consuming, technically/logistically complex and require luck/timeliness. The luck/timeliness will need to be provided by the SC site hitting financial and time obstacles. There is a lot of ground for HP to make up.
That said, I think the HP site CAN be a superior site to SC. It is planned to be an interesting mixed use development along one of SF's waterfronts. I think it can 'kinda' do for HP what at&t Park did for China Basin, which has corporate & industrial tenants that HP would not necessarily have. But, because of the time and need for infrastructure improvements at HP, SC is a better choice at this moment. It is simply ahead of the game. Still, if the HP stadium can be built, I think it would be worth it.
Actually, let me temper that with emotionally worth it, which goes for the SC site as well. I don't think stadiums anywhere are actually financially worth it. Also, parking and traffic issues plague most stadiums. at&t Park, Qwest Field and Oracle Arena are three of the better stadiums that I have been to that address this with proper levels of public transport and parking options. The newer Arizona stadium has a crappy parking lot issue. When I was there in 2009 (3 years old stadium at the time), that stadium couldn't check parking passes or collect money from people without passes. Also, it took me over 90 minutes to GET OUT of the PARKING LOT.
My point is troubles at any stadium site are pretty much a wash and it's really all about the timeliness of the projects. While I would rather the 49ers play in SF, it pains me to say that the SC site makes a lot more sense right now simply because they are ahead of the game. The only other 'realistic' options in SF is rebuilding Candlestick or Daly City's Cow Palace, but those are extremely far from likely.
One last opinion: I haven't seen an actual stadium design for HP. Most renderings I have seen are the SC Stadium pasted onto either the HP site or another SF waterfront site. I'm not crazy about the stadium design, but I think it makes more sense at the HP site. The "building/suite" portion could face a street while the opening of the stadium faces the bay. In SC, it looks really unbalanced and I am not sure if there is a view to take advantage of.
@ cypherninja...
You're Spot On! And Thank You.
You Being a Native San Franciscan, as I am, you also know that Lennar has spotted the Yorks $1 mil dollars to start the Hunters Point Stadium. As Gavin Newsom has said repeatedly, "all we need is the Yorks to say YES, and we can start building the next day." Because the residents of San Fancisco have voted a total of 3 Times for the the project to get started. There are No Hurdles in San Francisco, HP is shovel ready to go.
Um, you might want to re-read his post. See the bolded text above.
Thats kinda what I've been saying all along....LOL!!!
Dude, you know way down here in the boonies of SJ, we get the newspaper too...lol. It doesn't require being a Native San Franciscan to know the situation in SF any more than it takes a native Santa Claran to know the situation in SC.
If what you're saying is true and the shovels would go in the dirt tomorrow, then I would be 100% in support of the HP plan. I've been around long enough to know tho thats BS. Still, I hope thats true. If the Niners refocus their efforts on SF, nothing would make me happier than a waterfront stadium with a view of the SF skyline.
If what you're saying was REALLY true, why do you think the Yorks aren't jumping all over it? Is it just because they're mean? Do they just not like you native San Franciscans? Do they just not like to make money? Are they too cold at Candlestick?
Dude. The Yorks are about making money and coming up with a VIABLE project. If they could avoid all this public outcry, get the same stadium in a better location AND stay in SF....don't you think they'd be ALL OVER THAT!?!
....think about it.
[ Edited by Marvin49 on Jan 14, 2011 at 7:34 PM ]