Santa Clara Votes To Avoid Public Bidding Process For 49ers Stadium

Santa Clara Will Avoid Public Bidding Process For Proposed $937M Stadium For 49ers

The Santa Clara City Council yesterday voted 5-2 to "make use of a state law to avoid a public bidding process" for the proposed $937M stadium for the 49ers, a "crucial play" in the team's favor, according to Sandra Gonzales of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. The 49ers have maintained that it is "imperative the team select its own general contractor to build the stadium because only a few firms in the country specialize in such projects." 49ers VP/Communications Lisa Lang said the vote is a "significant step forward in helping the stadium project move to a public vote" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/28).

NEW NEST? In Atlanta, Leon Stafford reports the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA), which manages the Georgia Dome, agreed yesterday to pay Populous $145,000 to "propose a master plan" for the stadium. GWCCA Exec Dir Dan Graveline said that the Populous study "would look at the merits of renovating the current Dome or building a new stadium" for the Falcons. Stafford notes the study will "take into consideration building a new dome, an open-air arena or having a retractable roof," and also will "look at the cost of gutting the current building and starting over." The study "could be available as early as early spring" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/28).