NFL Facility Notes

49ers Hoping To Finance New Stadium Privately

The 49ers said that if “everything falls into place, ... they can build their new stadium — state-of-the-art and costing as much as $800[M] — strictly with private financing.” The team is “eligible to borrow the maximum” $150M from the NFL’s G-3 stadium fund, but 49ers VP/Communications Lisa Lang said that it is a “stretch to say the 49ers don’t need to seek public money because the fund exists.” Lang: “The reason we’re looking at other ways to finance the stadium is because we believe the people of [S.F.] just don’t have the appetite for taxpayer-backed debt” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 8/9).

CARDINALS: In Arizona, Matt Simpson reported $10 tickets for Saturday’s Steelers-Cardinals preseason games, the inaugural game at Cardinals Stadium, are selling for $75 on StubHub and front-row seats on the 50-yard line “are being marked up from $75 to $600.” The average price of Cardinals tickets sold on StubHub is $119. By comparison, tickets for the Super Bowl champion Steelers’ first home preseason game against the Vikings on August 19 are being sold for an average of $83 (EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE, 8/7).

COWBOYS: In Ft. Worth, Andrea Ahles cites team projections and stadium financing documents as showing that the average ticket price for a Cowboys game in ’09 — when the team plans to move into its new stadium in Arlington –-is expected to be $83.80, “almost a third higher than the average ticket price last season.” Including an 8% sales tax and a 10% admissions tax, the price increases to $98.88. But Cowboys Dir of Corporate Communications Brett Daniels said that prices “have not been set” for ’09. Daniels: “These are estimates and projections on where the league will be in the future” (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/9).

CHARGERS: In San Diego, Amy Oakes reports the City Council passed two ordinances yesterday “to regulate smoking and tailgating at” Qualcomm Stadium. The ordinances must be voted on again and then would take effect in 30 days. If the measures are formally approved, “fans will be permitted to smoke in two secure areas,” which will be equipped with TVs, and fans will not be permitted to have glass bottles in the parking lot (SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE, 8/9).