Pacific Gas & Electric and S.F. city officials said that they are "taking no chances that another embarrassing power outage will mar Sunday's NFC Championship game at Candlestick Park," according to a front-page piece by Mike Taugher of the CONTRA COSTA TIMES. The city of S.F. and PG&E have "spent close to a million dollars to ensure there will be no repeat of a darkened field when the 49ers host" the Giants on Sunday. More than a mile of wire has been "replaced, an in-stadium switch has been repaired and software has been upgraded." The pair of outages during the Dec. 19 Monday night game against the Steelers "began when a spliced wire leading to the stadium failed and problems with computer software and a faulty switch inside the stadium made the power failure worse." City and PG&E reps said that the "equipment has all been fixed, and it all worked perfectly when the lights were on during last weekend's divisional playoff game against the" Saints. It is "possible that Sunday's game could draw more electricity than recent home games," but PG&E spokesperson Joe Molica said that the new circuit can "handle more than three times the load served during recent games" (CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 1/19).
PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME: In San Jose, Mike Rosenberg in a front-page piece writes the timing "couldn't be better" for owner Jed York "monumental pursuit: finally building his team a $1 billion stadium palace in the South Bay." The 49ers' playoff run has "coincided with the start of season ticket sales for the Santa Clara stadium." The team's run "also comes as the city auctions off a naming-rights deal rumored to reach up to a record $20 million a year for the stadium." Former 49ers President Carmen Policy said, "I think this is the most fortuitous situation that could befall the 49ers because the timing is so critical and important for them." The team said that it has "already seen a spike in season tickets for next year." Sources said that Santa Clara has "recently received offers from firms for significant corporate sponsorships" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/19).
HAVING TO RECONSIDER? In San Jose, Lisa Fernandez notes a group of Santa Clara residents "opposed to a new 49ers stadium said Wednesday that they have collected enough signatures needed to force a referendum on an $850 million construction loan for the project." The group "submitted signatures to the city clerk's office Wednesday and needed about 4,500 valid names." City officials "counted about 5,500 signatures, but county elections officials will spend up to the next month and a half trying to determine whether they are valid." However, City Attorney Ren Nosky has "already said the Santa Clara Stadium Authority's vote on the loan is not subject to a referendum" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/19).
