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Gillmor is taking over as the 49ers are
negotiating the rent they pay Santa Clara |
The unexpected resignation of Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews earlier this month “not only cost the 49ers their most valuable local political player, but it also ushered one of the team’s chief critics to the top seat in the city -- and on the authority that oversees Levi’s Stadium,” according to Matier & Ross of the S.F. CHRONICLE. This happens “just as the team is negotiating a reset in the rent it pays to the city” on its $1B-plus stadium, which was “built in partnership with the city.” New Mayor Lisa Gillmor said that the 49ers are paying about $25M in rent and debt payments annually to the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, the entity “created to shield city coffers from being used to cover stadium costs.” Under the existing agreement, the team is “allowed to apply for a one-time rent reset.” Matier & Ross noted negotiations are “under way between the team and the stadium authority -- which Gillmor now chairs.” But in a “departure from the previous regime, Gillmor and other City Council members are asking for public updates.” They are also “calling for an outside audit of the financial arrangements between the city and the 49ers.” There is “talk of hiring a consultant to help Santa Clara staffers monitor how much the city spends on the stadium versus how much it is getting back from the deal.” Gillmor said, “We hope to see a lot more openness and communication” (
S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/20).
