In the wake of San Francisco 49ers owner John York announcing his plans to move the storied franchise to Santa Clara, many Niner fans are left distraught, perplexed, and bewildered. Just when a ray of light was about to shine on a young, improving (albeit slowly) team, the highly unpopular owner dropped this bombshell. Yes, it is hard to imagine the 49ers not in San Francisco, but for once, gulp; I do understand York’s logic. Here’s why:

• The team has been talking about building a new stadium since 1997, when Carmen Policy and Eddie DeBartolo were still running the show. As of today, no concrete plans have ever surfaced about when, where, and how this wonderful idea was to be achieved.
• Candles.., er, 3Com, um, I mean Monster Park is the dump of professional sports venues. They host eight games a year and still can’t seem to get the scoreboard lights working. The parking lot floods when it hasn’t rained in six months and the concessions stands are circa 1973. Whatever-you-wanna-call-it Park needs to be highly upgraded, or blown up.
• Santa Clara is in the South Bay near Paramount’s Great America amusement park and the city of San Jose. The Silicon Valley is booming and rich with land and paying customers. It is the home of the 49ers training facility, which is far more attractive than the location of where the actual games are played. There is an abundance of space across from the training facility that would be ideal for a new state-of-the-art stadium. Caltrains offers train service to the location in Santa Clara, making it easier for fans to get around. No such service of any kind is offered to Candlestick Point. Parking would be easier, and there wouldn’t be a flooded parking lot to trudge through.
• York stated that the name of the 49ers would never change as long as the team was in the Bay Area. It will not be like the Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim. They won’t be the San Francisco 49ers of Santa Clara. Both the Jets and Giants claim New York as their hometown and they play their home games in New Jersey. They don’t seem to mind, and neither should we.

         While these reasons seem logical for York and the 49ers, many still have concerns. Is this just a ploy to make the Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsome fork over serious money to help find a site and pay for the 49ers to stay in the city? Newsome is up for re-election next year and I doubt he wants to be known as the mayor who let the 49ers get away. Or, is this just step two of what York hopes will land the team in Los Angeles, where many believe the 49ers have long been considered a candidate to move. Is York secretly hoping that Santa Clara will not help provide the finances needed for such an operation, thus using both S.F. and Santa Clara failures as a scapegoat to move south? Yes, these are conspiracy theories, but York has not proven a single thing to his fan base since taking over that he has any clue about what he is doing. Terry Donahue and Dennis Erickson is all that needs to be said.
         Fans will be disenchanted if and when the 49ers to leave the City by the Bay. Like many fans, I too analyze teams with 80% heart and 20% brain. I don’t want the 49ers to leave the city because it’s their city. They were the first major league sports franchise in the Bay Area. The history. The tradition. The Super Bowls. All of these mean something to 49ers fans. It all happened in San Francisco. Fathers bonded with sons, beer drinkers celebrated with wine sippers, and all seemed right in the universe. However, as we all know, when it comes to owners these days, dollars and cents will always beat out the fans.
         With this said, let us not waver in self-pity or sulk until the sun comes up. Let us appreciate the great times that were had in San Francisco and move forward to what will hopefully be a first class venue in Santa Clara. Change is uncomfortable, but it doesn’t always mean it is bad. You may now have as many beers as you like, as Caltrains has your transportation covered.            www.oldskoolsports.com