After The Gold Rush: Are 49ers On Their Way To Santa Clara?

York Reportedly Ends Stadium Talks In S.F.

In a “series of evening phone calls” to S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom and several supervisors, 49ers co-Owner John York “declared that months of negotiations with the city [about a new stadium] are over and that he plans to move the team to Santa Clara,” according to Matier & Ross of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The decision followed a meeting yesterday with Lennar Corp., the “would-be developers of the housing and retail stores that were to accompany the proposed 80,500-seat stadium.” S.F. City Hall sources “did not rule out the possibility that York’s sudden announcement could be an attempt to cut a better deal” for the 49ers. But in phone calls, “York repeatedly said that his decision was final.” York “apparently reached his decision on his own, without consulting advisers or partners.” Newsom spokesperson Peter Ragone said, “We’re disappointed, but we’re not planning on mortgaging the future for a deal.” When asked if the team was leaving S.F., York “was evasive” and said, “I don’t know where you heard that” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/9). A S.F. city official said that York assured the city “that he was only negotiating with the city, but the team had talked in recent weeks to Santa Clara officials about the move.” The team’s HQs are based in Santa Clara (AP, 11/9).

AIN’T OVER TILL IT’S OVER: In San Jose, Mark Purdy writes the key to whether the 49ers eventually move “will be what happens if (or probably when) [S.F.] decides to come back with another offer as the 49ers are negotiating in the South Bay. Will the 49ers keep their word and sign a deal with Santa Clara ... or go charging back up the Bayshore Freeway?” Purdy: “Unless unexpected hurdles suddenly appear ... the 49ers will be playing in Santa Clara come 2011. Or maybe even sooner” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 11/9).

NAME BRAND RECOGNITION: York said that “no consideration is being given to changing the team’s geographical identity” despite the potential relocation. York: “Nothing will persuade us to change the name of the San Francisco 49ers, one of the most storied brands in the world of sports” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 11/9).