By Robert Haugh
At last night’s Santa Clara City Council meeting, former City Attorney Brian Doyle spoke out again about the problems between the City and FIFA for the 2026 World Cup.
“On June 13, 2022, (49er President) Al Guido signed an Addendum with FIFA knowing that the Stadium Authority would lose money by booking the World Cup,” said Doyle.
“He thought he could manipulate the 49er Council members into offsetting the loss with public funds from the Stadium Authority by telling them that the Bay Area Host Committee would make sure that the City did not have to pay the public safety costs for the matches.”
According to a May 2024 San Francisco Chronicle story by Ron Kroichick and Lance Williams, the current City Attorney Glen Googins confidentially told Council members that the City could lose $38 million on the 2026 World Cup.
During last night’s public testimony, Doyle also accused Guido of having a legal conflict of interests.
“By signing the Addendum on behalf of both ManCo (the 49er’s management company) and the Host Committee, he violated both Government Code Section 1090 which prohibits signing a contract with a corporation in which he had a financial interest and Government Code Section 87100 which prohibits participating in a decision that could have a reasonably foreseeable effect on a financial interest.”
As CEO of StadCo (49er’s stadium company) Mr. Guido has a financial interest in the Suite Revenue that StadCo receives for non-NFL events under the Lease.”
Doyle didn’t reserve his criticism just for Guido and the 49er Five. He also called out Googins for not protecting the financial interests of the City.
“On August 26, 2024, I made a public records request for an unredacted copy of the Addendum with FIFA to be able to enforce the Government Code against Mr. Guido for the harm that he has done to Santa Clara in order to increase his own 49ers profits.” said Doyle.
“Instead of enforcing the law, for the past two months, the City Attorney (Googins) has been covering up Mr. Guido’s violations by refusing to disclose the Addendum.”
“City staff’s coverup of ManCo’s legal violations and breach of contract has used up substantial City resources that staff admits that the 49ers have yet to reimburse the City for, in violation of Measure J,” said Doyle.
“It is time that the Council direct staff to bring a public report to allow the voters to evaluate whether staff is leading the City down the garden path toward financial ruin.”
Googins did not respond to Doyle.
In previous meetings when Doyle has raised the same issues, Googins said that he preferred to discuss the topics with the Council in executive session because of potential litigation and FIFA negotiations.
[…] has attended a few City Council meetings and written opinion pieces to raise his […]
If some or all of this is true Mr. Haugh, then shouldn’t the District Attorney’s Office and possibly the California Attorney General’s Office be sent this information for possible criminal action.
Is this the same school board who handed Dominic “touchy feely” Caserta 1.6 million. Caserta only supports one council member
Suds Jain
…. wait for the Chris Stampolis pay-out.
Why would the amount of money that it will cost to hold World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium be confidential information? Won’t the City need those figures to plan its budgets? And won’ t the public need this information to evaluate whether the Council should be approving any of those amounts. No one on City staff has ever explained any legally recognized basis for confidentiality of any of the facts surrounding Mr. Guido’s deal. Once again, the defenders of the 49ers are deflecting from valid public concerns by attacking others and questioning my motives. Pardon me for trying to protect the taxpayers when City staff does not seem to be up to the task.
Brian I think you are giving the city staff too much credit when you accuse them of being incompetent.
“Pardon me for trying to protect the taxpayers when City staff does not seem to be up to the task.”
It seems more likely that they don’t WANT to protect the taxpayers. Why else all the subterfuge and ignoring the laws being broken?
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. You were there for the last Super Bowl and know the in and out cost and broken promises. Several cities have lost money on Super Bowls and we may be on that list. The only city that will make out for a Super Bowl in Santa Clara is San Francisco. We pay for all the costs to put on the event and they collect all profits from hotels, dining and Super Bowl parties.
Suds, was it you? When is your court date?
Oh….That’s right, you admitted to your crime. Good for you.
A lot to be said for admitting you made a mistake.
Trust me, many of your neighbors and fellow residents are saying the same thing right now.
November 5th is coming….
Try and imagine just how much more free time you will have after this election.
Fed up with all this, time to get back to our lives.
Burt Field
“In previous meetings when Doyle has raised the same issues, Googins said that he preferred to discuss the topics with the Council in executive session.”
Public Council meetings are designed to openly discuss topics that are not barred by NDA, such as specific contract details or litigation. As an attorney Doyle knows this as does every other business person or resident paying attention to meetings.
“Googins did not respond to Doyle.”
A public Council meeting is not a deposition so Googins is not required or expected to respond to statements by the general public. By policy, a member of the public is allowed to share their opinion without argument from Council members or City Staff. Doyle’s public address is just him grandstanding and was possibly designed for the purposes of providing certain candidates a sound bite two weeks prior to voting and unnewsworthy material for this blog.
I have met Suds at events. He wasn’t friendly. He’s a socially awkward. I’m not offended by that. But I am offended by his dishonesty.
I’m following the Becker trial closely. It’s one of the defining moments in Santa Clara history.
The line that Suds cites is the reporter’s opinion. And from everything else I read, it’s not accurate.
The prosecution has not admitted that more than one party leaked the report. What they have said is that there’s clear evidence Becker did, including testimony under oath from Suds.
There’s no evidence that any one else did. Or they would have prosecuted them separately.
The prosecution did not agree that it’s possible that Becker leaked the report to the Chronicle. That’s a bad interpretation or bad writing … or an intentional attempt by Suds to deceive people.
It’s clear that Suds is not honest. Maybe he is only tells the truth when he’s under oath.
CSC,
You continually crack me up. You express ideas from “bat-shyte” crazy to “bull excrement.” Again, you venture out from Silicon Valley Der Stürmer.
You quote:
“‘Googins did not respond to Doyle.’
A public Council meeting is not a deposition so Googins is not required or expected to respond to statements by the general public. “
I understand you haven’t the education of MIT and Cal Tech dummies like Suds and Park.
Those knuckleheads know the transitive property: if (a=b) and (b=c), then (a=c).
First, Googins does NOT represent Santa Clarans, but owes loyalty to only the City Counsel AND NOT TO THE CITIZENS!!!!!
https://www.santaclaraca.gov/our-city/departments-a-f/city-attorney-s-office
A=Googins represents the City Counsel
B=The City Counsel is the 49’er Five
C=The 49’er Five are Jed York’s b*tches
So, then, A=C means that Googins is a Jed York b*tch….
What say you?
I wonder who released confidential closed session information to the SF Chronicle. Probably the same person who tried to get closed session information from a School Board member regarding the Swim Club and who most likely released the 2022 Grand Jury Report to the SF Chronicle.
From the Santa Clara Weekly article regarding Anthony Becker’s trial:
“While the prosecution admits more than one party leaked the report and the Chronicle had a copy before it was supposed to, it would not “stipulate” that Becker did not leak the report to the Chronicle.”
https://www.svvoice.com/judge-rules-on-multiple-motions-as-start-of-becker-perjury-trial-nears/
Suds says, “from the Santa Clara Weekly article”. Might as well say the National Enquirer.
Definitely know how reliable those two rags are.
Better used as bird cage liners.