While local news outlets have been reporting on the San Francisco 49ers' desire for an $800 million stadium for the National Football League team in Santa Clara, 45 miles south of its current San Francisco home, at least one Santa Clara official said nothing's etched in stone yet.
"We have no proposal from the 49ers, so we have no indication of any financial requirements, financing schemes, etc. We haven't exchanged information; we don't have any offers in any form or fashion. And we don't know if and when we'll receive a proposal from the 49ers," said assistant city manager Ron Garratt.
Garratt said he anticipates early next year the team will come forward and ask to work with the city's government on determining the feasibility of situating a new stadium in Santa Clara.
"We don't have any direction from City Council on this," he said. "A lot of stadium deals start out with a lot of sizzle, there's conversation about the feasibility of the stadium, and with a professional team that gets a lot of attention. But at some point you've got to come to the table, see what deal is being proposed and whether it's doable. It's a long process."
