Originally posted by SonocoNinerFan:
Regardless of what we all want, the Yorks have sunk too much money into Santa Clara to consider other options at this point. I see three things that could stop the Santa Clara stadium project:
1. Litigation. I don't think Cedar Fair (the owners of Great America) is a real threat. They're simply doing their due diligence and applying pressure to get a better deal for being inconvenienced. I think a greater concern would be a local community group who might sue to block the project due to environmental or traffic concerns. All they would need is one sympathetic judge to gum up the works.
2. Lack of NFL financing assistance. This project will not work without a new stadium funding pool similar to the one that helped fund the New Meadowlands, Lucas Oil Stadium and Cowboys Stadium. Any new NFL stadium financing will not available until a new CBA is agreed upon. If for whatever reason a stadium financing system isn't part of the new CBA (Goodell says it will be) then that will be a huge problem.
3. The Raiders. This is actually related to #2, but it's been widely reported that Goodell is pushing to put the 49ers and Raiders in same facility like the Giants and Jets. From a common sense perspective constructing two new billion dollar stadiums within a 30 mile radius would be a monumental waste of real estate and/or resources. Emotions aside, this makes sense if the Bay Area wants to keep both teams. I believe NFL funding assistance will eventually become available but it will be conditional upon a shared facility. This could impact the Santa Clara site if the Raiders balk at the site, which could lead to a new stadium being built in Oakland.
The bottom line IMO is that the clock on the Raiders and 49ers playing their games within the city limits of their namesake is winding down regardless of our preferences. Both the Niners and Raiders are regional assets with fans all over the Bay Area and Northern California. I believe in the end both teams will be playing their games in Santa Clara about 35 miles from their namesake cities.
Well, then the Yorks better hope this stadium deal doesn't collapse, because if it does, SF and Oakland will no longer be viable options. Oakland because of Al Davis and the conflicts between the fan bases and SF because they'll have chosen to continue on the HP project without the 49ers.