Great America Owner Could Sue Over 49ers Stadium In Santa Clara

49ers' $937M Stadium Project In Santa Clara Still Facing Long List Of Challenges

Despite a "palpable sense of optimism," there remains a "long list of challenges that could doom or significantly delay" the 49ers' $937M stadium project in Santa Clara, according to a front-page piece by Denis Theriault of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. Among the "most pernicious hurdles" emerging yesterday was "new talk of legal action" from Cedar Fair Entertainment, which owns Great America theme park. Under the terms of the deal between the 49ers and the city of Santa Clara, Great America "would have to give up an overflow parking lot to make room for the neighboring stadium." Cedar Fair, which is "concerned about parking and other losses," has been "negotiating with both the 49ers and the city." But Cedar Fair yesterday "for the first time" said that it "would consider legal action." 49ers President Jed York said that talks with Cedar Fair have "narrowed to one key issue: How events held outside the NFL season would affect" Great America. Meanwhile, other potential hurdles are an "exhaustive environmental impact report, due this fall, and what's expected to be a passionate political campaign ahead of a spring ballot measure." The binding citywide vote, which "could be perhaps the most definitive hurdle facing the stadium effort," could be held "as soon as March." The Santa Clara City Council "will convene June 23 to discuss setting a date" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 6/4).

York Discusses 49ers' Efforts For New Stadium During "Chronicle Live" Appearance

STADIUM PUSH: York yesterday appeared on CSN's "Chronicle Live," where he stressed the relative affordability of the stadium in comparison to other new stadiums around the league. York: "It's an expensive stadium, but we wanted to make sure that it was done the right way. We wanted to make sure that our fans have a place to be able to go and see games and not spend an exorbitant amount of money." York said the stadium will be “expandable to 75,000 (seats). That will enable us to host Super Bowls there. That's really my next step with working with the NFL.” York also said the stadium will play host to several non-football events. York: "We've got one concert slated in there. We've got international soccer games. We've got soccer games that we've talked to the Earthquakes and Lew Wolff (about) and some of their big games where they're looking to have a larger venue, those types of things." Meanwhile, York said of the 49ers possibly sharing the stadium with the Raiders, “We haven't really had substantive talks about sharing a stadium. I know the league wants us to evaluate having two teams, and that's carved out in the term sheet to have two teams in this building. That's something that if it makes economic sense for the city and for the 49ers, for a second team, then it's something we'd evaluate. But right now, I know the Raiders are really focused on Oakland and trying to get something done at the Coliseum site. We believe we can move forward with this stadium with just the 49ers." York added, “If there were two teams, it would be a more attractive financial deal, I think, for both of the teams and the city, but there's really nothing that's happened to suggest that that will take place." York also said a remodeled Candlestick Park “would probably be our preferred alternative option if Santa Clara didn't work out” ("Chronicle Live," CSN Bay Area, 6/3).

MEDIA BLITZ: In S.F., John Cote notes in addition to appearing on "Chronicle Live," York yesterday appeared on "morning sports radio trumpeting the deal," and he also "briefed reporters during a morning conference call and did TV spots." 49ers VP/Communications Lisa Lang said that team officials "haven't opened an official campaign committee, and Wednesday's media blitz wasn't specifically designed for the upcoming ballot measure." But Cote writes "that doesn't mean the campaign to win Santa Clara votes isn't on." Meanwhile, former 49ers President Carmen Policy is "shepherding San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's efforts to keep the team in the city at a new stadium planned" for Hunters Point. Policy said of York's media efforts, "He's getting the message out, and he's proceeding quickly to give the deal the best possible face it can have. He's using the right strategy. I just don't think it's the right decision" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/4).

FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT: In S.F., Scott Ostler writes now that the Santa Clara City Council has "officially kissed the ring of the York family," the 49ers' fate is "in the hands of Santa Clara's voters." But Newsom "seems to be leading the campaign to convince Santa Clara voters that it would be a huge mistake to throw their money at rich football-team owners when the money could go to, say, schools." Newsom said that the 49ers "kept coming up with new hurdles" in talks with S.F., and he "seems to feel that the 49ers were kind of weaselly, that they want fans to believe the team wanted to stay in San Francisco but couldn't get a workable deal." York yesterday said that the "main problem in San Francisco is infrastructure" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/4). In Sacramento, Matthew Barrows writes, "In picking Santa Clara over San Francisco, the 49ers went with pragmatism over romance, the Honda Civic over the Jaguar, the drive-thru burger over the fancy sit-down dinner." Santa Clara "might not have hills, but it has highways -- three of them -- in close proximity to the stadium site." The city also "has wide surface streets and two light-rail stops," and it also has an Amtrak stop a "few football fields distance from the site" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/4).