Though Santa Clara officials are expected to vote today to give the 49ers $4.5 million for their new SC stadium, they’re not the only folks throwing money at the team — last week, San Francisco agreed to hand the team $6.5 million, with more on the way.
The 49ers have been bickering with SF for years over Candlestick Park’s decrepitude, but a deal struck last week might end some of the sniping: the SF Board of Supes agreed to give the 49ers $6.5 million for repairs that hadn’t been completed in the past and millions more in rent credits going forward.
The Ex notes that San Francisco’s Rec and Park department “already awards the team $2 million a year in rent credits to make stadium improvements and could continue to do so,” making the deal even sweeter for the team.
Meanwhile, in Santa Clara, officials worried that statewide budget cuts might pull up to $40 million promised for a new stadium are considering putting $4.5 of that money where the state can’t take it back — in the 49ers’ pocket.
“In order to protect that money, we have to take away one more argument from the state” and move it to a private source, Mayor Jamie Matthews told the SJ Merc.
The Santa Clara City Council will vote today on this plan, which the Merc calls a “shell game.”
While the Merc says the future of the Santa Clara stadium is “hazy,” the 49er’s plans in SF are clear, for now. Also as a stipulation of their new deal with San Francosco, the 49ers agree to stay in Candlestick till 2014, with the option for one-year renewals thereafter.
Not mentioned: whether or not they vow to be any good until 2014. That is, if they play at all. Let’s hope for the best!
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