The 49ers could lose about $8-12M for hosting the CFP National Championship at Levi's StadiumGETTY IMAGES
Levi’s Stadium ended up being a "good fit" for the CFP National Championship, and the atmosphere on Monday night "was electric" for the 74,814 fans in attendance for Clemson-Alabama, according to Eric Branch of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The turf, which "inspired slips and derision when Levi’s opened" in '14, was "immaculate and sturdy." 49ers President Al Guido called Monday “one of those perfect days.” He said, “My immediate reaction was the stadium deserved it. In the sense that it has gotten knocked over time. Whether that’s atmosphere, noise, turf -- it was great to have all that kind of come together in the way that it did with our same 49ers people doing it.” Guido sent an email to 49ers Head Groundskeeper & Senior Manager Matt Greiner yesterday afternoon "congratulating him on the condition of the playing surface." Branch notes the 49ers "didn’t make money on the game." In fact, they "could lose" about $8-12M, but Guido has noted the "broader business benefits of hosting such games at Levi’s." He said that he "didn’t characterize the reported figures as a 'loss,' but an 'investment'" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/9).
ON TO THE BIG EASY: In Baton Rouge, Scott Rabalais notes the "year-long run up" to the '20 CFP title game, which will mark the event's first trip to New Orleans, has begun. The game will be played Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Incoming Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said that a lot of particulars "still need to be worked out for the championship weekend," including "sites for other events associated with the championship game." After a "drought of major sporting events in New Orleans in recent years," the CFP title game "kicks off a string of high-profile championships" returning to the city. New Orleans will host the '20 Women’s Final Four at Smoothie King Center, and the Men’s Final Four returns to the Superdome in '22. Super Bowl LVIII will be played in the Superdome in '24 (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 1/9). In New Orleans, Christopher Dabe notes there were 34 officials from the Sugar Bowl and other local organizations "involved in hosting" next year's game on hand for Monday's game. They have "been on hand for the last three championship games, where they attended future-host seminars and other sessions to help them prepare" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 1/9).
