San Francisco 49ers - New Stadium in 2014

New Stadium in 2014

On November 8, 2006, reports surfaced that the 49ers ended negotiations with the city of San Francisco about building a new stadium and plan to do so in Santa Clara, 38.4 miles south of the team's current home field, Candlestick Park in San Francisco; Santa Clara already hosts the team's administrative headquarters and training facility. The Yorks and then-San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom had been talking over the last few months about building a privately financed stadium at Candlestick Point that was going to be part of the city's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The 49ers' final decision to move the stadium ended the San Francisco bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago were the three cities competing to be the U.S. Olympic Committee's choice to bid on the 2016 games, with Chicago emerging as the eventual victor. The team's current lease at Candlestick Park could extend through 2013.

The 49ers sponsored Measure J, which appeared on the June 8, 2010 Santa Clara, California ballot, to build a new stadium as the future home of the San Francisco 49ers in that city. The measure passed with 58.2% of the total vote. This was seen as the first step for the 49ers stadium relocation to a new venue to be built in Santa Clara. The 68,500-seat, Santa Clara Stadium, landed rights for its first event. The stadium will be home to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

On the 49ers website, the team's owner, businessman John York had a letter stating that after a stadium is constructed in Santa Clara, the team would retain its name "San Francisco". York will use the S.F. Brand because the team will continue to represent San Francisco and the entire San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, York wants to keep the team's legacy and marketability intact. In the history of the NFL, teams who have made a significant relocation embraced the city/community support for its stadium and name change. In this case, the stadium relocation to Santa Clara is not considered a significant move. United States Senator (D-CA) Dianne Feinstein and other leaders threatened an attempt to prevent the team from using "San Francisco" or the "49ers" in the team name, however, that notion has no legal merit.

York later confirmed in a press conference on November 9, 2011 that the team would build a new state of the art stadium in Santa Clara without a shopping mall in time for the 2014 season. Groundbreaking for the new stadium took place on April 19, 2012.