Poll: Santa Clara Voters Plan To Back New 49ers Stadium

Poll Finds 52% Of Likely Voters In Santa Clara Plan To Back New Stadium Measure

The 49ers "have a substantial fourth-quarter political lead" in the campaign to build a new $937M stadium in Santa Clara, according to poll results cited by Howard Mintz in a front-page story for the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. The poll, commissioned by the Mercury News and KGO-ABC, found that 52% of likely voters in Santa Clara "plan to back Measure J on June 8, when they will vote on a proposal to construct a 68,500-seat NFL stadium on a parking lot adjacent to Great America theme park." Thirty-six percent of respondents are "against the measure," while 11% said that they are "undecided." Nearly "two-thirds of those polled ... expressed some worries" about the stadium's "potential costs to city taxpayers." The poll found that 49% of the "most reliable voters -- those who tend to vote in primary elections -- plan to vote yes on the measure." The survey of 614 registered voters took place from April 13-15 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9% (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/26). Meanwhile, Cedar Fair Entertainment, parent company of Great America, last week sent a letter to Santa Clara city officials saying that "continuing negotiations with the city and team should include the prospect of renegotiating Great America's long-running lease with Santa Clara, which provides for a minimum rent of at least" $5M per year. Cedar is "demanding that the lease be altered to eliminate the minimum rent and replace it with a performance-based formula that would take into account any negative effects from an NFL stadium, such as being forced to close on game days." Cedar Fair officials are "expected to meet with city and team officials Tuesday for their latest round of negotiations" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/24).

CHOOSING SIDES: A SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE editorial states despite reports that AEG Chair & CEO Tim Leiweke and WMG Chair & CEO Casey Wasserman are exploring the possibility of an NFL stadium in L.A., Majestic Realty Chair & CEO Ed Roski's proposed stadium in City of Industry "has tremendous merit and is the best location for a new NFL stadium/complex in Southern California." The location of the "600 hilly acres near the intersection of the 57 and 60 freeways" targeted by Roski is "centrally located as far as Southern California fans are concerned." The editorial: "It's clear Roski's stadium proposal can still compete against any other plan. The important thing is for him to not let a competing plan gain ground. That means continuing to negotiate even with the new obstacles" (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE, 4/26).