New Candlestick Contract Could Prolong 49ers Stay In San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - San Francisco supervisors have unanimously ended a long-simmering legal dispute with the 49ers over maintenance and rent at Candlestick Park.

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

Although the football team has already announced they plan to move to Santa Clara, the agreement means they will stay in San Francisco until 2014, and perhaps longer.

The Niners and the city have been bickering for years over $60 million in maintenance costs at Candlestick.

Sports Venues > Candlestick Park Guide

"The 49ers have agreed to take on maintenance and improvements to Candlestick in exchange for a rent reduction and funding from the city," said San Francisco Supervisor David Chiu.

The 49ers will receive $6.5 million for repairs that hadn't been completed in the past and millions more in rent credits going forward.

However, for San Francisco the big win is a new lease that will keep the team at The 'Stick at least through the 2014 season. The city is looking to do anything to hold out hope that the 49ers might not flee to Santa Clara after all.

Candlestick Park was built as an open-sided stadium for the San Francisco Giants in 1960.  It was fully enclosed in 1971-72 to accomodate the 49ers.  It is the oldest NFL stadium currently in use which began as a baseball-only facility.

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