By Robert Haugh
The 49ers are considering moving their practice facility from its longtime location next to Levi’s Stadium and the Youth Soccer Park, according to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle by Noah Furtado.
The move is not happening soon. Furtado reported that the team is looking at it as a long-term possibility.
The 49ers’ practice fields sit next to Levi’s Stadium and near Silicon Valley Power’s Northern Receiving Station. The electrical substation that has become the focus of online speculation about the team’s injury problems.
But according to the Chronicle, the possible move is not being driven by that theory.
Furtado reported that the issue appears to be tied instead to real estate limitations around Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers have practiced in Santa Clara since 1988, before the team moved its home games from Candlestick Park to Levi’s Stadium in 2014.
The substation near the practice fields was first installed in 1994 and later expanded when the stadium was built.
The 49ers have been among the NFL’s most injury-affected teams over several seasons. The team had the league’s highest adjusted games lost from 2013 to 2021, according to the Chronicle. They’ve also had major injury problems in recent seasons.
General Manager John Lynch previously said the team looked into the electromagnetic field theory. He called the matter a “big nothingburger,” saying an independent scientist found the facility was safe.
The 49ers have not publicly identified the scientist or released the findings.
Here’s my theory: in a few years, the 49ers will want to build a new stadium with a roof, and they will need some more land to move things around so they can continue to play at Levi’s while the new stadium goes up. Please note that their rights to the current practice facility is based on a heavily subsidized ground lease of City-owned land. My recollection of that lease is that the use is for a practice facility, not a new stadium. They will spend millions supporting Hardy or Chahal for mayor in order to maintain control of City Council to further the public subsidy of their billionaire ownership. Wake up Santa Clara! We are being fleeced.
The electric substation and the many data centers make the Northside a dangerous place to live. City leaders continue to green light these projects without much if any opposition. Many places are refusing to have data centers in their cities. We have more than 50. No one knows the long term effects they will have on the health of the community. Why don’t more people speak out against them? The time has come to pressure city leaders and developers. They can’t build a downtown but they sure can build data centers and housing for all the migrants flooding our city. Let’s move city hall up there next to the substation after the 49ers move their practice facility. City leaders are full stupid ideas like moving city hall and charging for parking. They lack common sense.
Real estate limitations? You mean parking limitations! The 49 Whiners want parking! But who’s going to pay for their plan? The Stadium Authority? The SA authority got fleeced again at last night’s council meeting thanks to the 49er 5/SA stooges. Unbelievable!
At the end of the day, I am so sick of our City being the “Butt of the Joke”. It’s too late for Santa Clara, however my hope is that any other City looking at maybe hosting any NFL franchise would just please, tap the brakes for a second and take a quick look around and ask some very simple questions first.
There are some decisions that are hard to undo once they are done. Paying for and Building a stadium for a team is one of those costly decisions, made only dramatically worse by actually putting the “Tenent” in charge of the rental property. Who thought that was a good idea?
Only one I can think of is the “Tenent”.
No Professional Sports group has used and abused their Host Cities worse than the NFL has.
Drop the mike and just walk away….
In fact RUN AWAY!
It’s embarrassing to me that any group could feel as entitled as this one group must feel.
Maybe the scariest part of all of this, just think how close our City got to having a Convicted Felon becoming our Mayor. How many cities in the United States can say that!!
The guy wasn’t qualified to work even “Part Time”at a Dog Kennel doing what Part Time workers do. Yet somehow he became a Santa Clara City Council Member, and then just a few votes away from being our New Mayor.
Great example of the power of money on local elections.
Did I mention scary?
Santa Clara
Just a tip… the Forty Whiners are far from done. Somehow, we need to let them know we are done subsidizing them. In successful Business, “Win / Win” should be the goal.
Apparently that’s not in their playbook.
Sad.
Just The Fact’s Ma’am
As long as we are entertaining ‘out there’ theories I’ll throw this out there. It’s because it’s too close to Suds Jain.