49ers President Carmen Policy said the team would like San
Francisco tax payers to pay half the cost of a new stadium,
according to Edward Epstein of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Policy told
investment bankers attending a stadium finance conference put on
by The Bond Buyer that the team would like the city to pay for
50% of the cost for replacing 3Com Park, but he added the team
would consider a smaller contribution. Policy said the team will
rely heavily on the judgement of Mayor Willie Brown in
determining how much money to ask from taxpayers. Policy: "We're
not going to the voters unless Mayor Brown feels he can sell it
to the voters." Epstein notes City Hall sources say a stadium
referendum is likely in a special election in June '97. The
49ers have hired consultant Jack Davis, who managed the Giants'
successful referendum campaign last March, to assist on public
research on a new facility and Davis is conducting focus groups
to gauge attitudes toward the team and a stadium. Policy said
the 49ers will not leave the city, "That's the bad news," he
added, since the lack of a threat to leave keeps the team without
leverage (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/10).
