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San Francisco Allows 49ers Out Of Candlestick Lease Early

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Weeks after the 49ers broke ground on a new stadium in Santa Clara, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to allow the team out of their Candlestick Park lease early.

The unanimous vote shows that city officials are coming to terms with eventually losing the NFL team to a new facility in Silicon Valley.

Supervisor Mark Farrell was tapped by Mayor Ed Lee to bring the legislation that ends the lease in 2014, if the team's new stadium is ready.

"As a longtime 49ers fan, it is very bittersweet to watch them build a new stadium down the road," Farrell said.

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

With the agreement, the city will receive its minimum rent guarantee for the 2014 season.

Supervisor Malia Cohen, who represents the Bayview District where Candlestick is located, supported the resolution partly because the 49ers will also provide $1 million to youth programs for the Recreation and Parks Department in order to break the lease.

"I really do believe that we should be putting up a huge fight, kicking and screaming trying to keep these Niners here. But the reality is that it is what it is," Cohen said.

While the 49ers may be leaving, city leaders are considering the possibility of the Golden State Warriors building a new arena in San Francisco.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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