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March 09, 2007
SF Chronicle reports on stadium progress, potential women's team
News of the potential Quakes stadium deal has finally reached San Francisco, so the Chronicle is checking in with their own story on the issue. While not exactly prompt, we have to give them credit for getting some quotes out of Lew Wolff that add a bit more to what is publicly known about the proposed deal:
Wolff would raise the required funds in a deal with the city of San Jose. The city would rezone land that Wolff and the A's either currently control or will control from commercial to residential so he could sell it at a large profit. The group would use $80 million-$90 million of the profits to build a stadium for the Earthquakes next to the home of the old team, Spartan Stadium on the university's South Campus."The way that land values are in the South Bay,'' said Paul Krutko, San Jose's chief development officer, "when a parcel that's zoned for industrial is rezoned for residential, its value goes up by a (factor) of four.''
According to Wolff, the new value depends on how many housing units the city would allow per acre. But he wouldn't comment on where the land is or whether he owns it.
"We're trying to use entitlements as currency,'' he said. "One of the powers that cities and counties have is invested in their ability to provide entitlements. Usually the benefit of that entitlement goes into the developer's pocket. In our case it would go into the development of soccer. We're not residential builders.''
The university would get a new 23,000-seat facility that could be upgraded to 30,000 for football -- for free. And the city would get pro soccer back without having to get a ballot measure passed for a new facility because no public money would be involved.
That sounds like a win for everybody involved. There's one thing that may raise eyebrows among Quakes fans, though:
"Once we know we have a path to a stadium, we'll buy the franchise from MLS,'' Wolff said. "It's not a done deal. My goal is if we can make a transaction work with the city and the university, we could buy the franchise and start playing in 2009.''
Yup, 2009. What do you say, readers? What are the pros and cons of coming back then instead of '08, if that option was available?
The Chronicle also reports on the revitalized women's league which is scheduled to begin play in six cities next year:
...league organizer Tonya Antonucci said her group has been having "meaningful discussions'' with A's owner Lew Wolff, who is trying to bring Major League Soccer back to the South Bay and is close to a deal with San Jose State for a new stadium that would be built next to Spartan Stadium...Antonucci said she has talked with other potential investors in the last week about putting an expansion women's team in the Bay Area in 2009.
"We think it's a fantastic market for soccer and for women's soccer in particular,'' said Antonucci, 38, a former Stanford player who served as an assistant coach at Stanford and Santa Clara.
Interesting to note that not only Wolff but other potential investors see the Bay Area as a great market for soccer. Quick, somebody tell AEG!
Posted by Jay at March 9, 2007 08:01 AM
Comments
2009 is too late for the Quakes to return, 2008 would take advantage of those Quakes fans who have stayed loyal for the teams return. Some people may drift further away.
Posted by: Sancho at March 9, 2007 03:13 PM
I agree. I was extremely disappointed when 2008 suddenly changed to 2009.
Posted by: Chandu at March 11, 2007 02:05 PM