Empty NFL Construction Fund Could Create Problem For 49ers

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that the league’s G3 stadium construction fund “is empty,” but 49ers officials said that they “expect that NFL money will be available to help them build a new home by 2012,” according to Hoge & Gay of the S.F. CHRONICLE. NFL owners approved a $300M loan for the new Giants-Jets stadium and a $42.5M loan to help renovate Arrowhead Stadium, and “those were the last two projects paid for by the fund.” But NFL VP/PR Greg Aiello indicated that he “expected the owners would fashion a replacement stadium-financing program during the offseason.” 49ers VP/Communications Lisa Lang added, “We’re confident that there will be a funding source there for us.” City of S.F. Dir of Economic Development Jesse Blout said that he “always assumed in his discussions with the 49ers that roughly $150[M] would be available from the NFL for a stadium” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/3). Goodell said, “We have always had a leaguewide stadium funding mechanism. I anticipate we will. But this has to be considered within the context of our labor agreement and revenue sharing with the players association” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/3).

Empty G3 Fund Could Present Problem For York’s Stadium Plan

ANOTHER ROADBLOCK? In S.F., Ray Ratto wrote the potential lack of league funds for a stadium “creates something of a problem for the 49ers.” The labor situation is “likely to drag out until 2010, when the current contract expires,” and unless the league is “very lucky, unless the owners suddenly kiss and make up, unless the two sides can avoid a labor nightmare, the 49ers stadium project, wherever it is, has about a one-day window to get its $150M, and banks don’t tend to turn around that kind of withdrawal with a couple of hour’s notice” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/3).

DESIGN: 49ers co-Owner John York, who has been “deeply involved in designing” the team’s potential stadium in Santa Clara, said that he told architects not to “make this the last of the current generation of NFL stadiums. Make it the first of a new era.” Tony Gonzales, principal in charge of the stadium project for HNTB, “envisions a street-fair atmosphere” similar to Yawkey Way, a pedestrian plaza of memorabilia shops and food stands outside of Fenway Park (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/4).