By Robert Haugh
The sole-source contract between the 49ers and Fanatics has already been executed, despite the City Council’s direction to City staff to review it and report back.
This information was shared with Santa Clara News Online by a reliable source who has viewed the contract.
That means City Attorney Glen Googins has not responded to the Council’s directive to investigate a possible conflict of interest.
Googins did not respond to a request for a status update sent three days ago through Santa Clara’s Public Information Officer, Janine De la Vega.
On May 13, 2025, the Council, acting as the Stadium Authority Board, voted 5-2 to approve the deal between the 49ers and Fanatics.
Fanatics already handles NFL merchandise at the stadium. The decision allows the company to expand its role. The team lobbied heavily for this to happen without a competitive bid, the standard City process.
Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Vice Mayor Kelly Cox opposed it. The 49er Five – Raj Chahal, Albert Gonzalez, Karen Hardy, Suds Jain, and Kevin Park supported it.
The agreement was signed by 49ers Executive Vice President Francine Hughes and Fanatics President Gary Gertzog.
During the Council meeting, Gillmor asked if Fanatics had conflicts of interest. City staff froze and deferred to 49ers lawyer-lobbyist Jihad Beauchman, who flatly said none existed.
That wasn’t true. In 2022, the NFL invested $320 million in Fanatics, making it the company’s largest outside investor to date.
That information was made available to the City Council and the Santa Clara community in an SCNO special investigative report.
Every NFL team, including the 49ers, benefits financially from Fanatics’ success.
After SCNO uncovered the NFL stake, ethicist Dr. Tom Shanks called Beauchman’s denial “deceptive.” He said the Stadium Authority once again acted more like “49er employees” than guardians of the public interest.
Former City Attorney Brian Doyle went further. He told the Council that Beauchman’s participation in the vote itself may have violated California’s conflict-of-interest law. Doyle urged the Council to rescind the decision or open a competitive process to avoid tainting the contract.
The Council responded by directing Googins to investigate and report back. That was on May 27, 2025. No report has been delivered.
Googins met with Beauchman six times in June and July. His calendar for August will not be made publicly available for another 3 weeks.
Meanwhile, the contract is in effect, even though it contains a clause requiring parties to certify that no conflicts of interest exist.
Follow are the meetings between Googins and Beauchman from Googins’ public calendar.
- Mon, Jun 2, 2025 — 6 p.m.: “Touch Base re Stadium Issues.” Attendee: Jihad Beauchman (49ers/Stadium Manager).
- Tue, Jun 10, 2025 — 3 p.m.: “Touch Base re Stadium and Major Event Issues.” Attendee: Jihad Beauchman (49ers/Stadium Manager).
- Thu, Jun 26, 2025 — 3:30 p.m.: “Touch Base re Stadium Issues.” Attendee: Jihad Beauchman (49ers/Stadium Manager).
- Mon, Jul 14, 2025 — 5 p.m.: “Touch Base re Stadium Issues.” Attendee: Jihad Beauchman (49ers/Stadium Manager).
- Thu, Jul 18, 2025 — 2:30 p.m.: “Super Bowl League Event Agreement Issues.” Attendees: Jihad Beauchman (49ers/Stadium Manager); Robert Weikert (BAHC).
- Fri, Jul 25, 2025 — 10 a.m.: “Super Bowl League Event Agreement.” Attendees include City staff/BAHC and Jihad Beauchman (49ers/Stadium Manager).
People like the 49ers and their pet council members will never stop breaking rules/laws on their own. They will only stop when they are stopped. At what point will they be accountable for their actions? These and similar actions have been costing the city some serious money.
Gosh
Googins has postponed 4 cpras about jain, park and Becker for
4 months!!!
Oh, anyone have a bronco baseball ticket from a game Gavin Newsom played in????
Googins seems to forget his Ethics 1234 training about conflicts, transparency and open government.
I guess what he teaches only applies to everyone else. Not him.
Just another middle finger to Santa Clara by Jed.
And clearly some fear from city staff (attorney) of losing their jobs by not bowing down and kissing Jed’s ring.
It amazes me that when there are blatant conflict issues that need to be looked into and we simply get “move along, nothing to see here”
There is ZERO accountability to the residents of Santa Clara by both the City Attorney and City Manager. But heck, let’s give them raises anyway.
Sad, but accountable is now a four letter word especially within California
Amazing coverage and information.
What may seem like just another random day in the World of the NFL, sadly this just once again showcases just how little the 49ers care about our City.
You can say what you want, but in my World, action will always speak louder than words.
When it comes to Commerce, our City, State, and Country have a pretty clear, legal path on how these roads should be navigated. It appears that the 49ers have once again decided that they didn’t need to be bothered with such trivial point.
So when is this company going to be held accountable for their poor business decisions. I know the list is long, and it’s painful, but apparently there is also no end in sight.
Just the Facts Ma’am