The 49ers have "turned their attention to revamping and
expanding 3Com Park" and have "all but abandoned plans for a
new football stadium" due to "projected costs rocketing out
of sight," according to Matier & Ross of the S.F. CHRONICLE.
Analysts have said a new stadium "would have cost anywhere
from" $525 to $650M -- even without a proposed mall adjacent
to the facility -- whereas converting 3Com "would cost
closer" to the $350M S.F. voters approved two years ago for
a new stadium. A source of 49ers Owner Eddie DeBartolo said
that a renovated 3Com Park "is the only scenario they're
looking at now" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/11).
THE THRAILKILL IS GONE: Also in S.F., John Crumpacker
reported that 49ers Interim President Larry Thrailkill
resigned, effective immediately, thus ending "the six-month
stint of a man who did not want the job in the first place
and accomplished little if anything in the interim."
Thrailkill also resigned from his position as COO of Edward
J. DeBartolo Corp. 49ers Interim GM John McVay: "He
basically fulfilled the responsibilities he had here. He
wanted to go back to Nashville and his law practice."
McVay: "Everything is in place for us to do lots and lots of
things, but we need Mr. DeBartolo back in position so he can
pull the trigger" (S.F. EXAMINER, 1/10).
