The San Francisco 49ers have secured the necessary funding to begin construction on their brand-new Santa Clara stadium. Now it appears that they will be moving in earlier than initially announced.
Mike Rosenberg of the Mercury News reports that the stadium will start its groundbreaking in late spring of this year and that the gates will open in 2014. Built-in penalties for the company undertaking the building of the stadium would seem to ensure that the construction will stay on track.
The fast-tracked schedule is the strongest evidence yet that the 49ers intend to play only two more seasons at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. And there are costly consequences if the team doesn't kick off in Santa Clara in 2014: Construction partners Turner-Devcon would face tens of millions of dollars in penalties if the project falls behind.
"We're going to be playing football here in 2014," Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews said. "I have no doubt whatsoever."
It is clear to see that the Niners have every intention of wrapping up their next two seasons and then launching their new era of Santa Clara residence as soon as possible.